Kadhimi discusses bilateral relations, cooperation with Kuwait leaders

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In a visit to Kuwait on Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi told the country’s emir that his government is working towards turning Iraq into “a meeting point” to enhance international cooperation and to strengthen relations with neighboring countries.

The PM met with Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah during his visit, stressing that the Iraqi government “is working to transform Iraq into a meeting point, dialogue and exchange views between different parties,” according to a statement from his office.

Kadhimi and Sabah also discussed ways to develop bilateral relations between the two countries, according to the statement, and addressed ways to enhance economic cooperation. 

An Iraqi delegation departed for Kuwait early Sunday morning as part of efforts to strengthen regional relations.

It comes ahead of a regional summit set to bring together several countries in Baghdad later this month. 

In a meeting with Kuwait Prime Minister Sabah al-Khalid al-Sabah, Kadhimi announced the formation of a higher political committee for negotiations between the countries. 

He also expressed his aspiration for “converging governmental efforts between Iraq and Kuwait to set the date for holding the meetings of the eighth session of the Iraqi-Kuwaiti Joint Ministerial Committee in Iraq,” noting that more than two years have passed since they convened for the last session.

Kadhimi also met with the Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly, Marzouq al-Ghanim, where he stressed the importance of exploiting the possibilities offered by the “geographical contiguity, the interdependence of strategic and economic interests between the two countries.” 

Ghanim expressed the importance of mutual support between the two countries, noting that “any threat to Iraq is also a threat to Kuwait.”

Kadhimi also expressed Baghdad’s desire for Kuwait to attend the regional summit that is scheduled for the end of this month. The leaders of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Emirates, Turkey, and several other Middle Eastern countries are expected to meet at the summit.

Iraq’s relations with Kuwait reached an all-time low Iraq invaded its oil-rich southern neighbour in 1990, on the orders of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Relations improved after the fall of Hussein's regime in 2003.

Updated 7:43pm