Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidiwill travel to Washington on Monday at the head of a high-level delegation fortalks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, with a particular focus on the oilsector, marking his first official foreign visit since taking office on May 1.
Speaking at a press conference, governmentspokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi said the July 13 trip reflects Iraq's policy ofpursuing "balanced foreign relations based on shared interests.”
During the visit, Al-Zaidi will meetUS President Donald Trump and other senior US officials, as well asrepresentatives of economic and financial institutions and companies to expandcooperation and investment. Iraq and the United States are also expected tosign memorandums of understanding covering the oil and gas sector, includingthe involvement of specialized US companies to boost Iraq's oil and gasproduction capacity and develop export routes that would reduce the impact ofdisruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Unlike previous visits, Al-Aboudi said,the trip will focus primarily on the economy, including memorandums ofunderstanding between the Iraqi and US development and energy funds.
The official described the visit as anopportunity to move Baghdad's relationship with Washington "from crisismanagement to a long-term economic partnership." As part of that effort,discussions will include a joint coordination mechanism under which Iraq wouldallocate limited volumes of oil exports in exchange for services provided by UScompanies to support the country's development needs.
: Al-Zaidi to Washington with energy deals front, “militia file” unresolved
