Iraqi President Barham Salih and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held talks in Baghdad on Monday with Egypt and Jordan’s Foreign Ministers Sameh Shoukry and Ayman al-Safadi.
Discussions tackled trilateral relations and joint coordination to address regional and international challenges and developments.
Upon their arrival in the Iraqi capital, Shoukry and Safadi met with their counterpart Fuad Hussein. The FMs agreed to hold regular meetings to face challenges and bolster trilateral relations.
The visit comes a year after Baghdad hosted the trilateral summit in June 2021, during which Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi took part.
Salih said Iraq is keen to bolster ties with Jordan and Egypt in various fields and expand them through the agreed upon understandings and frameworks of trilateral cooperation in the political, security and economic fields and the coordination of positions to maintain regional security and stability.
He stressed that Iraq’s security, stability and geographic location is a necessary to ensure regional security, a presidential statement read.
He underscored the need to reduce tension and resort to dialogue to resolve outstanding issues to pave the way for regional coordination based on economic and trade cooperation to address common challenges, including security, economy and climate change.
Kadhimi, for his part, expressed Iraq’s pride in its ties with Egypt and Jordan, underlining the importance of boosting them in various fields and achieving joint economic growth, prosperity and food security.
The three FMs held a joint press conference following their meeting.
Hussein said talks touched on the solid ties between their countries, as well as regional and international political developments and the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the region.
Shoukry told reporters that the visit is an opportunity to bolster trilateral ties and is aimed at backing Iraq.
He stressed that efforts are underway to restore Iraq’s position in the region and world.
Meanwhile, Safadi reiterated Jordan’ unwavering support for Iraq, stressing that their security is indivisible.
Shoukry and Safadi later held talks with Iraq’s parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.
