President Biden is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani to discuss regional stability, economic issues, and the future of American military presence in Iraq in the wake of Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend. U.S. forces in Iraq were crucial in shooting down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel. The meeting may also involve talks about future U.S. troop deployments, even though it is not the primary focus of the visit.
According to U.S. Central Command, U.S. European Command destroyers supported U.S. forces in destroying over 80 drones and at least six ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen. An Iranian ballistic missile was knocked down by a U.S. Patriot battery in Irbil, Iraq. The White House had previously announced al-Sudani’s visit to Washington last month. The leaders are expected to consult on various issues, including the fight against Islamic State and ongoing Iraqi financial reforms to promote economic development and progress towards financial independence.
The U.S. and Iraq have been in talks since January about ending the regional coalition formed to combat ISIS, with around 2,000 U.S. troops remaining in Iraq under an agreement with Baghdad. The delicate relationship between the two countries is complicated by Iran’s influence in Iraq, where Iran-backed groups played a role in bringing al-Sudani to power in October 2022. The U.S. has urged Iraq to use its influence in Iran to help prevent attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria that have increased since Hamas’ attack on Israel.
Al-Sudani has been in power since late 2022 and has tried to balance his relationships with Iran and America despite being perceived as close to Tehran. The recent attack on Israel by Iran further highlights U.S. concerns about the situation. The leaders are also expected to discuss the fight against ISIS and ongoing financial reforms in Iraq to promote economic development and progress towards financial independence, as well as the potential for a continued American military presence in the country.
Overall, the meeting between President Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani aims to address the aftermath of Iran’s attack on Israel, regional stability, economic issues, and the future of American military presence in Iraq. The U.S. is concerned about escalating attacks on its bases in Iraq and Syria and is looking to Iraq for support in preventing further incidents. The delicate relationship between the U.S. and Iraq, complicated by Iran’s influence in the region, adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
