Iraq and Türkiye are stepping up efforts to establish a new road-and-rail border crossing at Fishkhabur-Ovakoy. The Iraq-Türkiye border link could become a major connection between the two countries’ transport networks. Officials also plan to tie the crossing directly to Iraq’s ambitious Development Road project.
Iraqi Border Ports Authority chief Lt. Gen. Omar Al-Waeli led an Iraqi delegation during talks in Ankara on Wednesday. Discussions centered on putting a transport memorandum signed on July 28 into action. Both sides are using technical plans, maps, and locations prepared by joint committees.
The proposed crossing would support both railway and road traffic between Iraq and Türkiye. It would also include infrastructure designed to handle growing flows of commercial goods and travelers. Officials see the project as a way to strengthen border operations and increase transport capacity.
The talks also brought Iraqi and Turkish transport officials together with representatives from Syria. The three countries discussed ways to increase trade and transit activity across their territories. They also examined measures to simplify cargo and passenger movement while improving cooperation among border authorities.
The planned route carries wider importance because of its connection to Iraq’s Development Road. The project envisions a roughly 1,200-kilometer transport corridor stretching from Grand Al-Faw Port in southern Iraq toward Türkiye. From there, the route could provide access to European markets.
The Iraq-Türkiye border link therefore forms part of a broader strategy to improve regional connectivity. Iraq hopes the Development Road will create a faster route for trade between the Gulf, Iraq, Türkiye, and Europe. The new crossing could provide an important northern gateway for that network.
For Türkiye, stronger links with Iraq could support expanded trade and transit activity. The project could also strengthen Ankara’s position within emerging regional transportation corridors. Meanwhile, Iraq could gain another route for moving goods between its southern ports and northern borders.
Implementation remains dependent on technical coordination and the construction of supporting infrastructure. Authorities must also align customs procedures, border controls, rail systems, and road connections. Continued cooperation among Iraq, Türkiye, and Syria will influence how quickly the plans move forward.
The latest discussions indicate that both Baghdad and Ankara want to advance the project beyond preliminary planning. Joint technical work has already identified potential routes and locations for the crossing. The next stage will focus on translating those plans into practical infrastructure and coordinated border operations.
If completed, the Iraq-Türkiye border link could become an important component of Iraq’s long-term trade strategy. Its integration with the Development Road would connect Iraq’s southern maritime gateway with northern transport routes. That could give the country a stronger role in regional and Europe-bound trade.