Iraq, U.S. pledge stronger ties as Trump plans July meeting with Iraqi PM
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Iraq partnership in a joint statement issued on Tuesday.
The statement also noted that U.S. President Donald Trump looks forward to welcoming al-Zaidi to the White House in mid-July to discuss the future of the bilateral relationship.
Barrack arrived in Iraq on Monday as part of a regional visit that also includes the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
According to the joint statement, the two sides reiterated the commitment of the U.S. government, led by President Trump, and the Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister al-Zaidi, to a “strong and mutually beneficial U.S.-Iraq partnership” capable of fulfilling Iraqis’ aspirations for a sovereign, secure, and prosperous future.
The discussions focused on the Iraqi government’s vision for building a future free from terrorism, as well as plans to ensure “the complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state, to ensure the confinement of their weapons within the authority of the Iraqi state, and to assert full sovereignty in order to keep Iraq away from conflict and ensure that Iraqi territory cannot be used by any side to threaten regional peace.”
On the economic front, Barrack welcomed Iraq’s decision to grant a final operating license to Starlink, enabling the company to provide high-speed internet services to Iraqi consumers.
He also welcomed the launch of negotiations with Chevron to develop the West Qurna 2 and Nasiriyah oil fields, describing the projects as beneficial to both countries.
The statement further highlighted efforts to enable U.S. energy companies HKN Energy, WesternZagros Resources, and Hunt Oil Company to resume operations in Iraq under full security guarantees.
Additionally, both sides expressed support for advancing a memorandum of understanding with TI Capital Partners to rehabilitate the Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline, which was described as a vital route for Iraqi oil exports.