BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi will travel to Washington in mid‑July to strengthen strategic ties with the United States, focusing on economic, trade and investment cooperation, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Haider al‑Aboudi described the trip as an effort to “enhance the Iraqi‑U.S. partnership based on mutual interests,” and said the government aims to attract global companies and create an investment‑friendly environment that delivers concrete benefits to Iraq’s economy and internal stability.
Since taking office in May, al‑Zaidi has prioritized economic reconstruction, foreign investment and anti‑corruption measures as cornerstones of his agenda. Iraq seeks to diversify away from oil dependency while tackling high youth unemployment and ageing infrastructure, but faces hurdles that include curbing Iran‑backed militias, rooting out entrenched corruption, and balancing relations between Washington and Tehran.
The visit comes shortly after a U.S.‑Iran interim deal to halt the Middle East war, a diplomatic backdrop that could complicate Baghdad’s navigation between its two major partners. Al‑Zaidi won congratulations from U.S. President Donald Trump after his April nomination, and Baghdad and Washington continue to operate under a strategic framework covering security, economic and cultural cooperation, though ties have at times been strained over U.S. troop presence and Iraq’s relationship with Iran.