2026-06-11T10:57:21+00:00

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Shafaq News- Baghdad

Former Prime Minister Adel
Abdul-Mahdi called on Thursday for Iraq to build stronger relations with the
United States while upholding existing bilateral agreements, ahead of PM Ali
Faleh al-Zaidi’s official visit to Washington.

Speaking with Shafaq News, Abdul-Mahdi
said that while Iraq values ties with all countries, a friendship with the
United States is necessary —provided existing agreements between Baghdad and
Washington are also implemented. He identified September as a critical
juncture, noting that the scheduled withdrawal of Global Coalition forces from
Iraqi soil by the end of that month is “decisive.”

Abdul-Mahdi, who served as prime
minister from 2018 to 2020, added that strengthening political and economic relations serves the interests of all parties, citing the importance of both
Washington’s global role and Iraq’s regional standing.

Turning to the new government,
Abdul-Mahdi expressed hope for al-Zaidi’s success, while cautioning that it
remains “too early to evaluate the work of the government,” which
still has four years ahead of it.

Read more: What does Iraq’s new government promise?

Al-Zaidi’s upcoming Washington trip
is expected to center on economic partnership. A source familiar with the
visit’s agenda told Shafaq News that the prime minister will carry files
addressing several longstanding national challenges, including a proposal to
export 500,000 barrels of oil per day to the United States in exchange for
partnerships with major American companies in the energy, industry, and
agriculture sectors.