Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is scheduled to visit Washington on Monday for an official trip aimed at strengthening strategic relations between Iraq and the United States. Several agreements in the oil and gas sectors are expected to be signed as part of a broader partnership encompassing the economy, trade, and investment.
According to Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi, the two countries are expected to conclude several memoranda of understanding in the energy sector. These agreements aim, in particular, to attract more American companies to Iraq in order to increase the country's oil production capacity.
Iraqi authorities also want to develop new export routes for their oil and gas to reduce their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. This strategy comes as the effective closure of this maritime route during the Iran-Iraq War led to a decline in oil revenues for Iraq, as well as for several other Gulf producing countries.
Baghdad has been seeking for several years to maintain a diplomatic balance between its two main partners, the United States and Iran, while military tensions between the two powers continue to weigh on the stability of the region.
In addition to energy issues, the Iraqi Prime Minister's visit is also expected to focus on security cooperation. According to the government, strengthening the capabilities of the Iraqi armed forces will be among the main topics discussed with American officials.
This visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, as Iraq seeks to preserve its economic interests while strengthening its relations with Washington without jeopardizing its ties with its Iranian neighbor.
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