President Joe Biden is set to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani this week to discuss the escalating tensions in the Middle East, including Iran’s recent attack on Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria. The U.S. Patriot battery in Iraq intercepted at least one Iranian ballistic missile, highlighting the importance of the American military presence in the region. The talks will focus on regional stability, future troop deployments, and economic, trade, and energy issues that are a priority for Iraq’s government.
The relationship between the U.S. and Iraq is delicate, partly due to Iran’s influence in the country and the presence of Iran-backed groups in the Iraqi government. The U.S. has been urging Iraq to prevent attacks on U.S. bases in the region, especially after the recent conflicts in Gaza and the killing of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. The financial pressure has also been applied to restrict Iraq’s access to its own dollars to prevent money laundering benefiting Iran and Syria. Al-Sudani’s visit to Washington has been delayed due to tensions between the U.S. and Iran, as well as regional escalation.
Al-Sudani, who came to power in late 2022, has been attempting to balance relations with both Iran and the U.S., despite being seen as close to Tehran. The government has faced economic difficulties, including currency issues and discrepancies in exchange rates between the Iraqi dinar and the U.S. dollar. The U.S. has tightened the dollar supply to Iraq as part of efforts to crack down on money laundering and smuggling funds to Iran. The government also renewed Iraq’s contract to purchase natural gas from Iran, potentially causing displeasure from the U.S.
The visit will also address the cases of U.S. citizen Stephen Edward Troell, who was killed in Baghdad, and Israeli-Russian doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped in Iraq. The U.S. has condemned Tsurkov’s abduction and urged Iraqi officials to secure her release. Al-Sudani has promised to focus on economic development and fight corruption, but his government has faced challenges in delivering on these promises. The prime minister will also meet with the Turkish president to discuss a long-running dispute over oil exports from Kurdish areas of Iraq to Turkey.
Overall, the meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister al-Sudani is crucial in addressing the security concerns in the Middle East, potential future troop deployments, economic issues, and the delicate balance of relations with both Iran and the U.S. The talks will also address the cases of abducted individuals and potential solutions to economic challenges facing Iraq. The outcome of the discussions will have a significant impact on regional stability and the U.S. military presence in Iraq.
