Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Iraq today, Tuesday, for an unannounced visit, in the highest-ranking visit by a US official to the country since President Joe Biden assumed the presidency in 2021.
According to Al-Sharq news website, Austin is on a Middle East tour, and the US Secretary of Defense said, commenting on his visit to Iraq, that its aim is to strengthen the strategic partnership.
This comes as German Foreign Minister Analina Berbock begins an official visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Tuesday.
The spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, said in a statement reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), yesterday, Monday, "During the visit, Birbock will meet with the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fouad Hussein, to conduct expanded discussions within the framework of strengthening relations." Bilateral, building on common opportunities in various sectors, including energy and investment.
Source: agencies