On January 13, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani made an official visit to London, marking an important step forward in bilateral relations between Iraq and the UK.
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| Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani leaves for a visit to the UK. (Source: Iraqi Prime Minister's Office) |
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host his Iraqi counterpart at Downing Street, Anadolu Agency reported. During the meeting, the two leaders are expected to discuss boosting trade cooperation, growth and illegal migration.
According to a statement from Mr Starmer's office on the evening of January 13, the two prime ministers will announce an export package worth up to £12.3 billion ($14.9 billion) to boost opportunities for British businesses as well as economic growth.
The two sides will also negotiate a specific repatriation agreement, which is expected to help manage illegal migration and strengthen the UK's borders.
In a statement, Prime Minister Starmer said: "Today marks a new era in UK-Iraq cooperation, delivering shared benefits from trade to defence, as we continue to work towards stability in the wider region."
The two leaders are also expected to sign a “landmark” Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which will see Iraq tap into the UK private sector’s expertise in water, energy, telecommunications and defence infrastructure to secure future investment projects and provide significant opportunities for British business.
Prime Minister al-Sudani affirmed that this visit is an opportunity to strengthen relations with Western and Arab countries, while maintaining a balance with Iran - a neighboring country that plays an important role in providing electricity and gas to Iraq.
Iraq sees signing agreements with the West and Arabs as a key strategy to reduce the risk of conflict, making economic development the foundation of national security policy.
The visit comes as the Middle East is undergoing many complex changes. As a rare ally of both the US and Iran, Iraq is trying to maintain its neutrality and avoid becoming a new point of conflict in the region.
The security agreement with the UK is expected to boost military cooperation between the two countries, especially after the announcement that the US-led coalition will end its mission against the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization in Iraq in 2026. As the former motherland of Iraq, the UK currently plays an important role in this coalition.
Although IS was defeated territorially in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, concerns remain about the group’s ability to regroup in remote areas of Iraq. In particular, the situation in Syria following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime is creating a power vacuum, increasing security risks in the region.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chuan-bi-ky-ket-thoa-thuan-lich-su-quan-he-anh-iraq-buoc-sang-ky-nguyen-moi-300812.html
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