ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday met with numerous regional and international leaders and officials on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, underscoring Baghdad’s desire to boost ties and forge economic partnerships.
Sudani kicked off his second day at the conference meeting with four members of the United States Congress: Mike Turner, Mikie Sherrill, Joe Wilson, and Gerry Connolly. The Iraqi premier discussed enhancing Baghdad-Washington cooperation and other issues of mutual interest with the American lawmakers, including the transition of the role of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) in the country.
The prime minister “emphasized the importance of broadening relations between the two countries across various levels and sectors, moving beyond a focus solely on security,” according to a statement from his office.
Since late January, Baghdad and Washington have held two meetings of their joint Higher Military Commission (HMC) aimed at evaluating the coalition’s future role in the country based on the threat level from ISIS and the capabilities of Iraqi security forces.
The commission was formed following Baghdad’s call for the removal of US troops after several American airstrikes on Iraqi territory in response to repeated attacks on US personnel in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan. It is part of the Strategic Framework Agreement that went into effect in 2009 and seeks to normalize Baghdad-Washington relations through long-term bilateral economic, diplomatic, cultural, and security cooperation.
Sudani also met with US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, highlighting the need to boost legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries.
The Iraqi premier also held a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the conference, reiterating Baghdad’s commitment to enhancing its relations with Berlin across various fields, especially energy and the economy.
The humanitarian crises in the Gaza Strip and the need to put an end to the conflict was also highlighted during their meeting, according to a statement from Sudani’s office.
Sudani “expressed hope for swift efforts to end the conflict, which is impacting regional and global security, as well as disrupting navigation and energy supply chains,” read a statement from his office.
Nearly 29,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel declared war on Palestinian Hamas after the group infiltrated Israeli territory on October 7 and killed some 1,200 people. On Monday, Israel killed hundreds when it launched a military offensive into Gaza’s southernmost Rafah, a city it initially told Palestinians to evacuate to.
Germany has strongly supported Israel during its war on the Gaza Strip, while Iraq has repeatedly called for ending the conflict and voiced support for Palestinians.
Germany is an essential member of the international coalition against ISIS. The German parliament in October decided to extend its military mandate, continuing its operation to train and advise Iraqi and Kurdish armed forces against the threat of ISIS.
Sudani also convened with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on the sidelines of the conference in the Bavarian capital, touching on bolstering economic ties and the war in Gaza.
He “emphasized the imperative of ending the systematic killing and called upon major countries and international organizations to exert efforts, offer humanitarian assistance, and prevent the escalation of conflict in the region,” according to a statement from his office.
The Iraqi prime minister also met with his Estonian counterpart Kaja Kallas to discuss cooperation in the field of technology and artificial intelligence. They agreed to establish a joint committee to boost bilateral cooperation.
“The two leaders highlighted the potential for leveraging these technologies to advance the agricultural sector and implement e-government initiatives,” read a statement from Sudani’s office.
Estonia has been a member of the US-led global coalition since 2016. The country deployed a unit of up to 110 members to Erbil in April 2023, responsible for manning base defenses, rapid response, and providing security for advisors during activities outside the Erbil air base.
Other meetings on Sudani’s agenda for Saturday included Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mirjana Spoljaric, Secretary-General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard, CEO of Siemens Energy Christian Bruch, and General Manager of Italian Company Leonardo for Security and Defense Systems Lorenzo Mariani.
The Munich Security Conference is a global meeting for discussions on international security policy. The event brings together 450 high-profile and senior decision-makers and thinkers, including heads of state, ministers, as well as leading figures from non-governmental organizations, industry, media, academia, and civil society.
