Iraqi diplomatic tours in Europe and a visit by the Turkish Foreign Minister to Syria

After his visit to the United States of America last July, “which opened new horizons in relations between the two countries,” and placed it on the cusp of “major development,” according to the American Chargé d’Affaires in Baghdad, Stephen Fagin, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi began a visit to France on Sunday, after which he will head to Germany.

The statement issued by Al-Zaidi’s media office stressed that “Iraq must regain its position and build its relations on the basis of common interests,” noting that “we will open with Paris new doors for cooperation, investment and development.” With Germany, which he will visit after France, the statement stressed that “with Berlin, we will work to establish partnerships for knowledge, technology and industry based on common interests and development.” He pointed out that “Iraq today looks at the world with confidence, and is working to build real partnerships that translate its potential into an effective economic and regional power in its international environment.”

Al-Zaidi’s visit to both France and Germany comes in light of challenges and developments in the region, the latest of which is the attack on an oil pipeline to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by Iraqi armed factions, which led Al-Zaidi to say again that “Iraq will not be an arena for other people’s conflicts or a launching pad for attacks on neighboring countries,” stressing “strengthening the state’s authority, the independence of its decision-making, and supporting security institutions.”

Al-Zaidi, in his speech during his sponsorship of the graduation ceremony of the students of the Police College, said that “attempts to tamper with our security will be defeated by the unity of our people and their standing with their government and armed forces,” stressing that “the strength of the security services constitutes a deterrent to attempts to undermine the security of Iraq.”

In a remarkable statement, the new American Charge d'Affaires in Baghdad, Stephen Fagin, confirmed that the relationship between Baghdad and Washington is on the cusp of "major development." He said: “When Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited Washington last summer, he was carrying a mandate from the Iraqi people to build a sovereign, secure, and prosperous Iraq.”

Regarding Al-Zaidi’s European visit, the head of the Center for Political Thinking, Ihsan Al-Shammari, said, “The visit comes as a continuation of a new philosophy adopted by the Iraqi government to create centers of international power.”

On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan begins a two-day official visit to Syria. According to sources in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the visit, Fidan will meet his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, today, and they will hold a joint press conference.

Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is also scheduled to receive Fidan later today. Fidan is also scheduled to meet with the Syrian Minister of Interior, Anas Khattab.

Fidan is also expected to reaffirm Türkiye's will to strengthen the institutional framework and legal basis for continued cooperation with Syria in several fields, including trade, energy, transportation, and regional connectivity.

Fidan's visit to Syria is an indication of the close cooperation that Türkiye and Syria have established in various fields, since the overthrow of the Assad regime, on December 8, 2024.