Baghdad confirms transition to bilateral relationship with Washington
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has officially confirmed the transition to a bilateral relationship with the United States, in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement.
Al-Sudani’s statement came during his meeting on Thursday with Senator Christopher Coons, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US Congress, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
During the meeting, Prime Minister Al-Sudani underscored the significance of the alliance between Iraq and the United States. He highlighted that following the fulfillment of the international coalition’s duties in Iraq, the two nations will initiate a bilateral relationship. Al-Sudani also stressed the necessity of addressing the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and the conflict in Gaza, especially in the context of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Senator Coons acknowledged the depth of the relationship between the United States and Iraq. He emphasized the need to broaden this relationship to encompass various aspects including economic, cultural, security, and health cooperation. Coons revealed that President Joe Biden had specifically requested his visit to the region and the subsequent meeting with Prime Minister Al-Sudani.
Recently, Iraq and the United States reached an agreement to establish a High Military Committee. This committee will assess the threat posed by ISIS and develop a timetable for the gradual withdrawal of international coalition advisors involved in combating ISIS in Iraq. The agreement outlines a transition towards comprehensive bilateral relations covering political, economic, cultural, security, and military aspects with nations participating in the international coalition, aligning with the vision of the Iraqi government.
