Baba UmarWashington DC - President Donald Trump has told reporters that the US will pursue major energy and trade agreements with Iraq, including oil imports, while visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi stated that bilateral ties have transitioned from a military focus to economic cooperation.
Speaking with reporters at the White House, Trump said, "Iraq has tremendous potential because of their oil ... and we're going to be doing a lot of deals. We're going to create a lot of jobs for both countries, and we're going to be taking out a lot of oil."
"A lot of oil is coming out, and the American companies are doing it — mostly American companies now."
Trump said the Iraqi premier secured an electoral victory, marking a significant transition for the nation's governance and its international partnerships, adding he played a role in al-Zaidi's election victory.
"He won an election that a lot of people didn't think could be won by anyone except the other candidate — who, in my opinion, was not a good person and not good for America or for Iraq," Trump said, adding, "I played a role in this, and it was very important to me that the right person got in — someone who can do the job and do it well."
A witty Trump also quipped about the Iraqi leader's appearance, saying, "He's a young man… young and handsome. Which I don't like. I'm not happy about it."
The room erupted in laughter.
New ties, and no armed militias
The Iraqi prime minister told reporters that his visit to Washington "is an announcement of a new economic partnership", stressing that he spoke with Trump about the September 30 time frame for US troops to leave Iraq.
"On the 30th of September the US forces will leave Iraq while American companies will enter Iraq. Our relationship is now based on economic cooperation, not military relations. I bring greetings from the oldest civilisation in the world to the economic and technological heart of the region," he said.
Asked by reporters whether he was considering pulling Iraq from the oil producer group OPEC, al-Zaidi said, "Iraq is one of the founding members of OPEC... Our right is to receive a fair share for Iraq."
Al-Zaidi emphasised that Iraq's fight against Daesh has incurred immense costs and devastated the nation's infrastructure.
"The damage suffered by Iraq exceeds $400 billion, and to this day some Iraqis still have destroyed homes and are living in camps. I have a plan to return them to their homes, and that is why I want a fair share for Iraq in OPEC," he added.
The Iraqi prime minister also reiterated that restricting the possession of weapons exclusively to state institutions is a core and non-negotiable element of his government’s programme, describing the policy as a firm decision rather than an option.
PM al-Zaidi said that there will be no justification for the continued existence of any faction after the September 30 deadline, noting that armed factions "are neither a necessity nor a profession."
"After the 30th of September, we will never accept any entity carrying weapons outside the control of the state," the Iraqi premier added.
