During his official visit to the United States, Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani met with U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken on Monday evening, Baghdad time. The meeting, held at Prime Minister Al-Sudani`s residence in Washington, D.C., focused on establishing long-term joint relations, activating the Strategic Framework Agreement, and the Joint Higher Coordinating Committee.
Discussions also explored economic aspects and investment opportunities for American companies, particularly in the energy sector, and the prospects for expanding partnerships with the Iraqi private sector in areas crucial to the Iraqi market and various cooperation areas that benefit both countries.
Prime Minister Al-Sudani highlighted the shared understanding on many issues, emphasizing that the Strategic Framework Agreement serves as a roadmap for developing future relations between Iraq and the United States. The discussions also touched on significant regional issues, including the ongoing situation in Gaza, where Prime Minister Al-Sudani reiterated Iraq’s firm stance against the aggression, underlining the joint legal and moral responsibilities to protect unarmed civilians and support efforts to prevent the conflict from widening and further casualties among the Palestinian people.
Secretary Blinken welcomed Prime Minister Al-Sudani`s visit, affirming the U.S. administration`s support for Iraq`s positions in the region and its commitment to a strong, democratic Iraq that contributes to regional and international stability. Secretary Blinken supported Iraq’s development and reform initiatives, particularly harnessing natural gas and energy sector and infrastructure development, expressing hope that the visit would lead to increased cooperation between the two countries.