A. al Zaidi, who came to power this year with D. Trump’s blessing, began his duties amid increasing US pressure on Baghdad to disarm pro-Iranian armed groups, which often targeted US facilities in Iraq.
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In Washington, A. al Zaidi hopes to attract US investments to the country, which urgently needs to boost its economy, especially after major revenue losses caused by the halt of oil exports during the war in the Middle East.
A. al Zaidi “on Monday, at the invitation of the US president, is traveling to Washington, where he will lead a high-level delegation,” said government press representative Haidar al Aboudi (Haidar Abudis).
The talks will focus mainly on “strengthening economic relations and investments,” especially in the oil and energy sectors, he added.
The state monopoly on weapons is a necessary condition to “ensure internal stability (…) and attract investments that can stimulate” the economy, said H. al Aboudi.
A. al Zaidi promised to ensure that pro-Iranian armed groups surrender their weapons, but he faces resistance from some influential factions.
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Oil-rich Iraq has long navigated between competing influences of its allies – neighboring Iran and the United States.
Recently, the country has been trying to overcome decades of war and unrest, but still faces problems of poor infrastructure, inadequate public services, bad governance, and endemic corruption.
In recent months, Iraq has signed several contracts with US companies in the oil sector.
It is expected that during his week-long trip to Washington, A. al Zaidi will sign several more agreements, including a contract for the establishment of a fund to which Iraq will allocate half a million barrels of oil daily in exchange for increased electricity supply.
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