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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday for talks aimed at strengthening strategic relations with the United States, with several oil and gas agreements expected to be signed during the visit.
According to Iraqi government officials, the meetings will focus on expanding economic, trade and investment cooperation as Iraq seeks to deepen ties with the United States while maintaining relations with neighboring Iran.
“The agreements to be signed will include several memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sector as Iraq prepares to bring in various U.S. companies that will provide momentum to increase oil production capacity,” government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said.
Iraq’s state news agency, citing al-Aboudi, reported that the planned agreements are also intended to develop alternative export routes for Iraqi oil and gas, reducing the country’s reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraq, like other oil-producing nations in the Gulf, has experienced declining energy revenue as disruptions linked to the conflict between the United States and Iran have affected shipping through the strategic waterway.
Al-Aboudi said strengthening Iraq’s armed forces will also be on the agenda during meetings in Washington.
“I want to move the relationship beyond crisis management to opportunity creation, particularly opportunities that have a measurable economic impact. In my meeting with President Donald Trump, I will present concrete ways in which we can make that vision a reality,” Al Zaidi also wrote in a Washington Post op-edbefore his visit.
Relations between Iran and the U.S. have periodically been strained over the presence of American troops in Iraq, Iraq’s relationship with Iran and U.S. efforts to limit the influence of Iran-backed armed groups operating in the country.
Since being nominated as prime minister in April, al-Zaidi has signaled an interest in expanding cooperation with the United States. President Donald Trump congratulated al-Zaidi following his nomination and expressed hope for stronger ties between the two nations.
