US Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack and Chargé d’Affaires Steve Fagin. Photo: X
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – US Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack met with Chargé d’Affaires Steve Fagin on Monday in Iraq, describing him as an ideal choice to help advance the priorities of US President Donald Trump.
In a statement on X, Barrack described Fagin as the right leadership at a pivotal moment for the US relationship with Iraq as it transitions from a security-focused partnership to a broader relationship grounded in economic cooperation and shared interests.
Following the conclusion of the US-led international coalition’s mission against ISIS on September 30, Baghdad and Washington have actively pivoted their strategic relationship.
Rather than relying on a multinational military command, the partnership is shifting toward long-term bilateral diplomacy and economic integration governed by the US-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.
The economic cooperation between the two countries includes inviting US companies back into Iraq’s oil sector, with initiatives focusing on natural gas development and the petrochemical industry.
The collaboration between the two sides encompasses coordinating closely with US federal entities to secure and modernize financial structures, ensuring transparent money transfers that align with global standards.
The United States and Iraq are utilizing initiatives to attract foreign direct investment and create industrial and agricultural projects backed by sovereign guarantees.
The two sides also address trade bottlenecks through regular sessions under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to assist Iraq’s ongoing evolution into a market-oriented economy.