President Biden is scheduled to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani this week to discuss regional stability and the ongoing presence of American troops in Iraq. The meeting comes in the wake of Iran's recent attack on Israel, where U.S. forces in Iraq played a crucial role in intercepting Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.
The discussions are expected to cover a range of topics, including economic, trade, and energy issues. There may also be talks about future U.S. troop deployments in the region, although this is not the primary focus of the visit.
U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces, with the support of U.S. European Command destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed over 80 uncrewed aerial vehicles and at least six ballistic missiles during the recent attack. A U.S. Patriot battery in Irbil, Iraq, intercepted at least one Iranian ballistic missile.
The White House had previously announced al-Sudani's visit to Washington, highlighting discussions on combating the Islamic State and promoting economic development in Iraq. The U.S. and Iraq have been in talks since January about potentially ending the regional coalition established to combat ISIS, with around 2,000 U.S. troops still stationed in Iraq under an agreement with Baghdad.
The relationship between the U.S. and Iraq is complex, partly due to Iran's influence in the region. Iran-backed groups hold significant power in Iraq and were instrumental in bringing al-Sudani to power in late 2022. The U.S. has been urging Iraq to leverage its ties with Iran to prevent attacks on American bases in the region.
Al-Sudani has been navigating a delicate balance between Iran and the U.S. since assuming office, seeking to maintain relations with both countries despite his perceived closeness to Tehran. The upcoming meeting between President Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Prime Minister al-Sudani is expected to address these intricate geopolitical dynamics and chart a way forward for stability in the region.
