Iraqi Prime Minister Scheduled to Discuss Bilateral Relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, 4 OCT

 Iraqi Prime Minister Scheduled to Discuss Bilateral Relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, 4 OCT

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, is expected to visit Moscow in the coming weeks, according to a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry. While specific details about the visit and the agenda for the meeting have not been disclosed, it is anticipated that discussions could touch on bilateral relations, regional issues, and other topics of mutual interest between Iraq and Russia.

Strengthening Iraq-Russia Relations

The announcement was made by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. During the meeting, both leaders discussed the prospects of joint cooperation and the potential for strengthening relations between the two countries.

“The Iraqi side is working on completing necessary preparations for a visit by Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al Sudani to the capital Moscow during the coming weeks,” stated Mr Hussein. He further highlighted that the talks between the two sides could provide an excellent opportunity to discuss cooperation in the political and economic fields.

It was also suggested that a meeting of the joint Iraqi-Russian committee could be held in conjunction with this visit. Sergey Lavrov echoed his counterpart’s sentiments, emphasizing Russia’s eagerness to develop relations with Iraq and expressing anticipation for Mr Al Sudani’s visit to Moscow.

Decades of Bilateral Relations

Over the years, Iraq and Russia have built a robust bilateral relationship, primarily focusing on energy, military, and security. Major Russian oil companies, including Gazprom Neft and Lukoil, are actively working in Iraq, particularly in the oil-rich south. In his visit earlier this year, Mr Lavrov mentioned that Russian companies had made substantial investments in Iraq, totaling around $13 billion.

This relationship is further solidified by Iraq’s position as the second-largest producer of crude oil in OPEC, following Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, the US and EU have yet to impose sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, despite the punitive measures designed to impact its economy and financial system following Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Iraq-Russia Collaboration Against ISIS

In addition to their bilateral cooperation in various fields, Iraq has also been coordinating with Moscow in the fight against ISIS. In 2014, Iraq, Russia, Iran, and Syria established a security coordination committee a few months after the US formed an international coalition in the war against the extremist group.

When the UN General Assembly passed a US-led resolution to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iraq abstained, along with China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Armenia, and 16 African countries. The resolution was ultimately adopted with the support of 141 countries out of 193.