Riyadh (IraqiNews.com) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday to discuss increasing regional trends and increased collaboration between Baghdad and Riyadh to promote Middle Eastern security and stability.
According to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders reviewed the current regional events and how to coordinate their nations’ responses.
The meeting represents a crucial diplomatic interaction between Iraq and Saudi Arabia at a time of rising tensions in the Gulf, after fatal strikes on Riyadh’s international airport and ongoing disruption to regional energy and commercial lines.
During the meeting, al-Zaidi expressed the Iraqi government’s condemnation of the targeting of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as attacks and other actions that harm civilians and civilian infrastructure during armed conflicts.
The condemnation comes after a series of Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s international airport over the past week, raising concerns over the security of civilian aviation and critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Zaidi’s visit comes as the regional war puts increasing strain on Iraq’s economy, notably via disruptions to oil exports and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The discussions come after several days of high-level Iraqi participation in international energy conferences sponsored by Saudi Arabia.
Iraq’s Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair and Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Waheeb attended the WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, where they met with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman to explore ways to improve energy cooperation.
The two nations have been looking into ways to develop energy infrastructure, electrical cooperation, and economic relations, as regional instability has drawn attention to alternate trade and oil export routes.
Al-Zaidi’s meeting with Mohammed bin Salman elevates Iraq-Saudi ties to the forefront of broader diplomatic attempts to handle the effects of the regional crisis.
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