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AL-SUDANI’S ADVISOR TALKS ABOUT A “NEW CHAPTER” WITH WASHINGTON AND THE AGENDA OF A US DELEGATION IN IRAQ SOON
Farhad Alaaldin, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s advisor for foreign affairs, spoke about a “new chapter in the Iraqi-American partnership.” He also touched on a “promising” opportunity for American companies specializing in the manufacture of floating platforms and the supply of liquefied natural gas to participate effectively in Iraq. He also revealed the agendas of a “high-level” American delegation visiting Iraq this month.
Alaa El-Din said in an article in the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, followed by Al-Jabal, “On the sidelines of a recent visit to Washington, D.C., an American official explained to me that the US administration’s foreign policy approach focuses on making the United States more secure, stronger, and prosperous. In my opinion, this approach is completely in line with Iraq’s aspirations and foreign policy, particularly with the policy of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who has adopted the principle of putting Iraq first and the common interest, which will also make Iraq more secure, stronger, and prosperous.”
He added, “The ongoing transformations in the country are contributing to the consolidation of solid and advanced partnerships between Baghdad and Washington. Over the past years, Iraqi-American relations have witnessed steadily growing in the areas of security, energy, and the economy, in accordance with the principle of mutual interests . Today, with the accelerating pace of economic renaissance and comprehensive development in Iraq, particularly in the energy sector, opportunities are more available than ever before for major American companies to contribute to shaping this renaissance and leave a clear and effective mark, in addition to their role in strengthening and consolidating bilateral relations between the two countries .”
He noted that “a high-level delegation representing a select group of major American companies is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad in April to explore new and promising opportunities in the rapidly growing Iraqi market. This visit, led by the American-Iraqi Chamber of Commerce, is part of a broader initiative to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries .”
The advisor said, “Several memoranda of understanding and cooperation agreements are expected to be signed during the visit between visiting companies and their Iraqi counterparts. It is certain that solid global companies such as General Electric, KBR , Baker Hughes, Halliburton, Honeywell, and others are capable of playing a pivotal role in developing Iraq’s energy sector, given the availability of investment opportunities and multi-billion-dollar contracts to modernize this vital sector .”
Alaa El-Din noted that “this visit is likely to result in the signing of an unprecedented agreement between General Electric and the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, aiming to produce 24,000 megawatts of highly efficient power, as announced by the Minister of Electricity, Engineer Ali Fadhil, in a televised interview on March 28, 2025. This agreement aims to contribute to bridging the significant gap in electricity demand, which is expected to reach 48,000 megawatts .”
The Prime Minister’s Advisor explained that “parallel efforts to address this challenge include establishing cross-border partnerships, in addition to continuing national work to complete the Gulf Electricity Interconnection Project, which aims to deliver 500 megawatts from the electricity grid to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries via the State of Kuwait by 2025. Iraq’s understandings with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Turkey are also expected to result in importing a total of 2,500 megawatts of energy by 2027. While the volume of imports increases to meet the growing demand, paving the way for reaching the stage of self-sufficiency, the need to cooperate with American companies in the areas of technology transfer and infrastructure development remains critical to achieving sustainability and providing long-term solutions . ”
He added, “Iraq’s natural gas sector also highlights the significant opportunities available to advance the country’s energy development. Huge quantities of associated gas are still being flared daily, around the clock, due to weak infrastructure and the urgent need for advanced international expertise in processing and exploiting this vital resource. In this context, American companies possess advanced technical and technological capabilities, making them ideal partners in this field. These capabilities can effectively contribute to reducing waste and maximizing the use of natural resources, which will benefit both countries and help Iraq achieve energy self-sufficiency in the near and medium term .”
“On March 4, Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani announced that the ministry is in the process of importing a floating regasification platform (FSRU) to secure gas supplies for the country’s power plants. The bidding process is currently underway, and the most suitable bid to implement the project is expected to be selected in the near future. This project represents a promising opportunity for American companies specialized in manufacturing floating platforms and supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) to participate effectively and compete on an equal footing with other international companies, as part of Iraq’s efforts to expand its options and diversify its sources to secure its energy needs, ” he said.
Alaa Al-Din continued, “Over the past two and a half years, Iraq has awarded more contracts to American companies than ever before, reflecting the growing level of trust and partnership between the two countries. Economic cooperation between Iraq and the United States has witnessed remarkable growth, encompassing various sectors, including agriculture and food industries. Currently, the Iraqi government is moving to accelerate the implementation of major infrastructure projects, particularly in the areas of transportation, water, and communications. These sectors are areas of interest and expertise for American companies, making them among the most prominent candidates to win these contracts and contribute effectively to the development process in Iraq .”
He pointed out that “Iraq’s accelerating economic trajectory represents a real opportunity to deepen the partnership with the United States, especially in light of the ambitious drive to develop the energy and infrastructure sectors. American companies are in a unique position to lead this process and contribute to the implementation of its most important components with high efficiency. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed this possibility during a phone call he had on March 10 with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. He thanked the Prime Minister for his commitment to the bilateral relationship between the United States and Iraq and praised the Trump administration’s dedication to strengthening energy and economic relations between the two countries for the benefit of both the American and Iraqi people .”
He pointed out that “it is increasingly clear in both Baghdad and Washington that the path forward is defined by shared interests and opportunities, which is driving bilateral relations toward more robust cooperation, based on mutual respect and convergence of strategic objectives. This is consistent with the fundamental principles of making the United States safer, stronger, and more prosperous, on the one hand, and fulfills Iraq’s aspirations for promoting stability and comprehensive economic development, on the other .”
He explained, “Looking ahead, Iraq and the United States have certain opportunities to deepen their partnership in ways that contribute to enhancing regional security, economic integration, and long-term stability. This approach was at the heart of the phone call that took place between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US President Donald Trump on November 8, 2024. According to the statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, both sides expressed their commitment to advancing the strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States and strengthening bilateral relations beyond security aspects, with a focus on the areas of economy, finance, energy, and technology .”
Al-Sudani’s advisor concluded by saying, “This agreement paves the way for a new chapter in the Iraqi-American partnership, heralding a promising future in light of shared interests. It places economic development and regional stability at the heart of the relationship between the two countries, serving their peoples and effectively contributing to consolidating security and peace in the region and the world .”
English (US) ·