Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Wednesday that Iraq has offered to supply Turkey with 1 million barrels of oil per day. The proposal, if realized, could cement Turkey's position as a key energy transit hub and reshape regional oil flows.
What Erdogan Said
Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, Erdogan said Iraq made the offer during recent talks. He did not provide a timeline or specify whether the oil would come from Iraq's northern fields or other regions. The announcement comes as Turkey already serves as a major conduit for Caspian and Kurdish oil.
Turkey has long sought to become an energy corridor between producers in the Middle East and Caspian and consumers in Europe. A steady 1 million barrels per day from Iraq would boost volumes through Turkish pipelines and ports, giving Ankara more leverage in energy negotiations. It also deepens economic ties between the two neighbors, who have historically had tense relations over water rights and Kurdish autonomy.
Global Oil Supply Dynamics
The offer arrives at a time when global oil markets are already under pressure from OPEC+ production cuts and geopolitical uncertainty. Iraq is the second-largest producer in OPEC, and diverting 1 million barrels per day to Turkey could affect its export routes and quotas. The potential shift in supply flows may influence prices, though the details of the arrangement remain unclear.
Neither government has disclosed the terms of the offer or a start date. The proposal will likely be a topic in upcoming bilateral meetings, and it raises questions about how Iraq will manage its OPEC+ commitments while increasing shipments to Turkey.
