Iraq staying together as one nation in US interest: Senator

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Wednesday told Rudaw that it was in the United States’ interest for Iraq to stay together as one nation, stressing that it is possible for all of Iraq’s components to coexist.

Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani arrived in Washington on Saturday, marking his first visit to the US as the prime minister of Iraq. The Iraqi premier on Wednesday presided over the signing of 19 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in various sectors between American companies and the Iraqi government and private sector.

“I think it’s in America’s interest to make sure Iraq stays together as one nation to move forward economically,” Graham told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda on Wednesday, emphasizing his interest in an economic alliance that would serve both countries.

“How to share the wealth of Iraq is an ongoing conversation… It’s been complicated for many years and it will still be complicated,” the senator added, stating that he believes it is possible for Iraq’s different components to live together.

Sudani met with US President Joe Biden in the Oval office on Monday, with the two reaffirming their commitment to comprehensive bilateral cooperation in line with the Strategic Framework Agreement, including political, economic, and security cooperation.

The Strategic Framework Agreement came into effect in 2009 and seeks to normalize Baghdad-Washington relations through long-term bilateral economic, diplomatic, cultural, and security cooperation.