Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi confirmed Wednesday that he will meet with US President Joe Biden in Saudi Arabia on July 15. In a statement reported by the SHAFAQ News portal, he said he will head to Jeddah, where the July 15-16 summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to which the US president, the leaders of Egypt and Jordan, and the prime minister of Iraq have been invited, will take place.
"I hope that after Friday's talks, [US President] Biden will fully understand my personal determination and the determination of the Iraqi people to deal with the challenges facing Iraq on their own," Al-Kadhimi pointed out.
The prime minister acknowledged the important role of the United States in supporting Iraq over the past years. "We are grateful for the American help and the sacrifices they have made to strengthen our security," he said. - "But now Iraq is going its own way, it is stronger than ever, and its credibility is growing regionally and internationally."
In a statement issued by SHAFAQ News, the government office stressed that the participation of the Iraqi prime minister in the Jeddah summit shows "Baghdad's commitment to develop diplomatic relations in order to strengthen the international position of Iraq, which maintains a balanced position."
Earlier, Al-Kadhimi noted in an article published in Foreign Policy magazine that much has changed in the Middle East since Biden's last regional trip (as US vice president) in 2016. "A group of leaders has emerged in the political arena who are seeking positive change," he stressed. - "These people are looking for solutions to complex problems such as terrorism, food security, climate change."
Biden began his first Middle East tour since taking office on Wednesday with Israel, and will also visit the West Bank and Saudi Arabia. In Jeddah, the US president will hold talks with Saudi leaders and bilateral meetings with Arab leaders to strengthen the partnership. According to White House National Security Aide Jake Sullivan, at the GCC summit Biden "will make an important statement about the American administration's strategy and vision for the Middle East."
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Based on materials from TASS