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US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller speaking to reporters in Washington on April 8, 2024. Photo: handout
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A top joint committee between the United States and Iraq will meet next week to discuss a range of topics ahead of the scheduled meeting between the US President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, State Department spokesperson said on Monday.
“The upcoming US-Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee meeting next week, next Monday, will highlight our shared bilateral priorities and the broad relationship between our two countries, including energy independence, financial reform services for the Iraqi people, strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and enhancing educational and cultural relations,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, said during a press briefing on Monday.
“The United States supports a strong resilient Iraqi Kurdistan Region with a sovereign, stable and secure federal Iraq. And we encourage the Government of Iraq and the KRG to redouble efforts to resolve long standing issues, bringing economic benefits to all Iraqis,” he told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda during the presser.
Biden and Sudani are set to meet in Washington on April 15.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein was in Washington late last month, making preparations for the first meeting between Biden and Sudani.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Hussein during his visit to Washington that the White House looks forward to the meeting.
“Our partnership crosses over many issues and many things that have a direct impact on the lives of Iraqis as well as Americans, everything from water to energy to the environment to the delivery of services,” the US secretary of state said.
“For us Iraq is an important critical partner, critical to the stability of the region, and one again which we have not only a longstanding relationship [with] but one that is comprehensive to the issues it covers,” he noted.
The US and Iraq have begun discussions about winding down the presence of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State mission in Iraq. Baghdad is seeking to expel coalition forces from the country after the US carried out several airstrikes against Iraqi armed groups in retaliation for scores of attacks on its forces based in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan.
“The upcoming US-Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee meeting next week, next Monday, will highlight our shared bilateral priorities and the broad relationship between our two countries, including energy independence, financial reform services for the Iraqi people, strengthening democracy and the rule of law, and enhancing educational and cultural relations,” US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, said during a press briefing on Monday.
“The United States supports a strong resilient Iraqi Kurdistan Region with a sovereign, stable and secure federal Iraq. And we encourage the Government of Iraq and the KRG to redouble efforts to resolve long standing issues, bringing economic benefits to all Iraqis,” he told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda during the presser.
Biden and Sudani are set to meet in Washington on April 15.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein was in Washington late last month, making preparations for the first meeting between Biden and Sudani.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Hussein during his visit to Washington that the White House looks forward to the meeting.
“Our partnership crosses over many issues and many things that have a direct impact on the lives of Iraqis as well as Americans, everything from water to energy to the environment to the delivery of services,” the US secretary of state said.
“For us Iraq is an important critical partner, critical to the stability of the region, and one again which we have not only a longstanding relationship [with] but one that is comprehensive to the issues it covers,” he noted.
The US and Iraq have begun discussions about winding down the presence of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State mission in Iraq. Baghdad is seeking to expel coalition forces from the country after the US carried out several airstrikes against Iraqi armed groups in retaliation for scores of attacks on its forces based in Iraq, Syria, and Jordan.
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