Iraq, France Sign Deal To Bolster Energy, Security Ties
About a month after France called for curbing the Islamic Republic’s influence in Iraq, Paris and Baghdad have signed a strategic cooperation agreement.
About a month after France called for curbing the Islamic Republic’s influence in Iraq, Paris and Baghdad have signed a strategic cooperation agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron held a meeting with Iraq Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Thursday in which they inked a set of strategic agreements meant to boost Baghdad's economic cooperation with Paris, especially in the energy and public transportation sectors.
"I just signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement with my friend Mr. Macron, which sets a roadmap for expanding the horizons of cooperation between our two countries in various fields," read a tweet from the Iraqi PM following his reception by the French president.
In a statement issued in the early hours of Friday, the Elysee Palace said France and Iraq also signed a treaty seeking to strengthen bilateral relations in anti-corruption, security, renewable energy and culture.
"(Macron and Shia al-Sudani) have reaffirmed their commitment to complete big network infrastructure projects based on French knowhow (...) In that respect they have pledged to grant Iraq the expertise of French companies," read the statement, adding that "In terms of alternative energies, they showed their commitment to the implementation of TotalEnergies's multiple-energies project (...) based on solar energy and investments in gas."
Macron in December attended the second gathering of the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership in Jordan, which aimed at providing support for Iraq’s stability and security. The summit, which was held on the shores of the Dead Sea, brought together twelve countries of the region, including the archenemies Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic. Tehran's policies of intervening in other countries affairs was condemned at the “Baghdad II” summit.
