Iraq And Saudi Arabia Commit To Better Ties

Saudi Arabia's King Salman meets with Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi during an official reception ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 17, 2019. Reuters

The National: Iraq and Saudi sign 13 new agreements to deepen economic and political relations

King Salman praised the warming of ties after an Iraqi delegation arrived in Riyadh.

Iraq and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday signed 13 political and economic agreements in a sign of improving ties between the two countries after 25 years of estrangement.

The development comes as Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh leading a high-level delegation of senior ministers and business leaders.

The Iraqi leader was welcomed by Saudi King Salman.

Before the visit, Mr Abdul Mahdi said relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia had entered a new stage.

“We are facing major shifts in our relations with Saudi Arabia,” he said in Baghdad on Tuesday evening.

“Iraq wants to develop relations with Saudi Arabia in all fields. This will bring security and stability to the region.”

Read more ....

Update: Iraq and Saudi Arabia sign agreements as King Salman meets PM Abdul-Mahdi (Arab News)

WNU Editor: When Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi met Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei two weeks ago, he was told to order U.S. troops out of the country .... Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Tells Iraq To Expel U.S. Troops 'As Soon As Possible' (April 7, 2019). But when Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi met Saudi King Salman, instead of being told what to do, monies and loans were offered and given, and the need to have more consultations in the future to better ties. In this context, it is not hard to figure out who the Iraqi PM would want to deal with.