Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is scheduled to visit Washington on August 20 for talks with US President Donald Trump.
Kadhimi’s talks with US officials will tackle bilateral relations and cooperation on security, energy, economy, and investment, a statement from the prime minister’s office said.
Earlier, Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister Fuad Hussein announced that the PM will visit Washington to resume the Iraq-US strategic dialogue. The first round of talks occurred on June 11.
Trump will host a visit of Kadhimi to the White House on August 20 to discuss challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic as well as security, energy and economic issues, the White House said in a statement on Friday.
This visit is expected to spark debate in Iraq especially by the parties who call for the US withdrawal from Iraq.
National Security Professor at al-Nahrain University Dr. Hussein Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Iraq faced difficult challenges in 2019. Kadhimi’s appointment as PM gave hope that a change in power and a transitional phase are possible.
Washington sees that Iraqi-US ties should move forward, he added.
The Iraqi government is considering means to overcome the economic crises, and COVID-19, and to build new infrastructure in the sectors of electricity and water.
On energy and the economy, Allawi said that the PM will request the US government to urge American companies to operate in Iraq, and support the country in establishing an independent energy policy.
Farhad Alaaldin, head of the Iraqi Advisory Council, told the newspaper that this visit is essential for both governments especially that the topics of discussion will determine regional and bilateral ties of Iraq.
