The move aims to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries. [Getty]
Iraq‘s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has formally invited his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Al-Shaibani, to visit Baghdad next week. The move aims to strengthen diplomatic ties between the two neighbouring countries.
Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on Saturday, Hussein confirmed the invitation and underscored the importance of closer cooperation between Iraq and Syria. The visit is expected to focus on bilateral relations, regional security, and avenues for enhanced collaboration.
Meanwhile, Iraqi government spokesperson Basim Al-Awadi emphasised Baghdad‘s openness towards the political developments in Syria, expressing a willingness to engage in serious cooperation with the new Syrian leadership.
In an interview with Al-Sabah, an Iraqi state-run newspaper, Al-Awadi stated, “Iraq and its government have been proactive in acknowledging the new Syrian reality. Signs of welcome and readiness for cooperation have already emerged from Baghdad. Most importantly, Iraq has made a firm decision not to interfere in Syrian affairs and to accept the new political equation that has been formed by the Syrian people.”
He reaffirmed that Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani’s upcoming visit to Baghdad would play a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic ties.
“This visit will contribute to achieving the desired goal and will serve as a starting point for a new phase of relations based on cooperation and mutual respect. It will cover a broad range of important issues that concern both countries,” he said.
Al-Awadi further highlighted Iraq’s commitment to fostering strong bilateral relations, stating that both nations have significant opportunities for collaboration in economic, investment, and security sectors. “Iraq is keen on engaging in serious cooperation with Syria in various fields, as both countries stand to benefit from enhanced economic, investment, and security partnerships,” he added.
Uncertainty over Syria’s participation in Baghdad’s Arab Summit
Despite Iraq’s openness to engagement with Damascus, it remains unclear whether Syria’s interim president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, will attend the upcoming Arab summit in Baghdad, scheduled for late April.
Al-Awadi said that Iraq is making extensive preparations for hosting the summit and that a delegation from the Arab League has visited Baghdad to oversee arrangements. However, he did not confirm whether Al-Sharaa would attend.
Dylan Ghafoor, chairwoman of the foreign relations committee in the Iraqi parliament, last week told The New Arab that Iraq has not yet sent official invitations to any Arab leaders, as the responsibility lies with the Arab League.
“The Arab League is tasked with sending the invitations to all the presidents and not by Iraq. However, until now, no official invitations have been sent to any leaders of the Arab states, including Ahmed Al-Sharaa,” Ghafoor stated.
When asked whether Al-Sharaa could attend despite facing terror-related charges, she said Iraq’s formal position was still undetermined. “It is not settled yet whether he would be invited or not, or what Iraq’s position towards that would be,” she added.
Security cooperation between Iraq and Syria
The invitation to Syria’s foreign minister follows a visit by Iraq’s intelligence chief, Hamid Al-Shatri, to Damascus late last year. Al-Shatri met with Al-Sharaa to discuss security matters and the fate of Iraqi detainees held in Syria, marking the first official visit by an Iraqi official after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.
Despite these recent developments, Iraq has yet to formally congratulate Al-Sharaa on his appointment as Syria‘s interim president on 29 January.
The issue has also sparked debate on Iraqi social media, with users launching online campaigns opposing Al-Sharaa’s potential visit to Baghdad. Some have raised concerns about his security should he decide to travel to Iraq.
