Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has asserted that the situation in Iraq today is markedly different from that in 2014, stating that ISIS no longer poses a threat to Baghdad.
This announcement came during a meeting with the Iraqi diaspora in Washington and other states, on the sidelines of his official visit to the United States.
Al-Sudani expressed a desire to transition to bilateral relations with the international coalition countries, similar to other regional states, including security ties.
He highlighted that “Iraq today is experiencing unprecedented recovery, stability, security, development, and tangible services across the country.”
He also noted the strategic advantage of Iraq’s relationships with both Iran and the United States, which could be leveraged to reduce regional tensions, a strategy that has been effective in past crises.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of his visit to the U.S. to articulate Iraq’s vision for its relationship with America.
The Prime Minister also expressed his pride and appreciation for Iraqi diasporas in the United States and other countries, emphasizing that “Iraq belongs to all Iraqis,” and the country needs the expertise, experiences, opportunities, and initiatives from Iraqi personalities in America.
Al-Sudani revealed plans to establish a department for diaspora affairs to foster effective communication with Iraqi communities worldwide, as the government seeks to engage competencies beyond political quotas.
Hussein Allawi, advisor to the Prime Minister, stated that Iraq will discuss with the White House the continuation of development pathways and lay the actual foundations for energy development and open major investment opportunities for American investors.
Allawi mentioned that the Prime Minister will highlight investment opportunities in clean energy and the promising petrochemical sector, as well as the Iraqi Development Fund which aims to launch various projects seeking partners and investors, stating, “Al-Sudani is paving a new path towards peace and development.”
Allawi also noted that the Prime Minister has assigned a significant economic, financial, and banking team that has successfully mapped out a strategy for Iraqi banks in cooperation with the Central Bank of Iraq.
Al-Sudani’s visit, which began on the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, follows the signing of two agreements in 2008, including the SOFA, which regulated the temporary presence and activities of U.S. military forces in Iraq and their withdrawal, and the Strategic Framework Agreement, which continues to shape the bilateral relations in political, security, diplomatic, cultural, educational, and environmental fields.
