Shafaq News / Tracy Jacobson, U.S. President Joe Biden’s candidate for U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, gave her opening address to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In her speech, Jacobson expressed her gratitude to President Biden and the Secretary of State for their confidence in her candidacy for this vital position.
Jacobson, who has more than 30 years of experience at the State Department, confirmed that she will work closely with the commission to advance U.S. interests in Iraq.
“If my appointment is confirmed, my top priority will be to protect U.S. citizens and strengthen our bilateral partnership to support our common strategies and interests,” she said.
She referred to her previous experience as a U.S. ambassador to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kosovo, as well as as a list of business at the United States Embassy in Ethiopia, stressing that these experiences made her more qualified to promote American interests in Iraq.
On security, Jacobson stressed the importance of strengthening the stability, security and sovereignty of Iraq, pointing out that ISIS remains a threat in the region.
She added: “Our military provides vital support to the Iraqi and Peshmerga security forces in the Kurdistan Region. Ten years after our troops returned to Iraq to fight ISIS, it is time for our military to move to a new role. I will ensure that any transition from Operation Inherent Resolve to a bilateral security arrangement is geared towards defeating ISIS and ensuring Iraq’s security.”
Jacobson also stressed the importance of Iraq strengthening its relations with its neighbors, noting the positive steps taken by the Sudanese prime minister in this direction.
Jacobson noted that having economic development, and a government capable of providing services to its people, reduces the attraction of terrorism and also reduces the influence of Iran-allied militias that pose a significant threat to the country’s future.
“Iran is a malicious representative of Iraq and destabilizing the region and we recognize that the main threat to Iraq is the militias allied with Iran,” she said.
Jacobson also confirmed that it will continue to support Treasury measures to modernize Iraq’s banking system, and stressed that it will not “allow Iran to use the supplied “gas” to operate the terminals as a weapon against Iraq.
On the other hand, Jacobson warned of “Iran’s evil intentions and its continued role in disturbing the security situation in the region,” stressing that “Iran-backed militias pose a great danger to Iraq’s stability, and that they will work with all available political means to counter this threat and limit Iranian influence.”
In the context of supporting Iraq, Jacobson announced its commitment to strengthening vital sectors such as energy and banks, with the aim of achieving Iraq’s independence and protecting it from external interference, and linking it to the global system to achieve sustainable development and promote economic stability.
It should be noted that this opening speech comes ahead of the vote to appoint Jacobson as the United States’s ambassador to Iraq, which represents a new strategic step in U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East.
Jacobson concluded her speech by emphasizing her commitment to protecting American interests and working for the stability and security of Iraq if its appointment is confirmed.
On January 26, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate Tracy Ann Jacobson, for the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Iraq, instead of Alina Romansky.
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