ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Tuesday congratulated US President Donald Trump on his inauguration, expressing Baghdad’s desire to strengthen ties with Washington within the Strategic Framework Agreement and to implement joint agreements between both countries. “The Prime Minister expressed Iraq’s aspiration to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and partnership with the United States within the Strategic Framework Agreement and the shared interests of both nations,” said a statement from Sudani’s office Trump returned to the White House on Monday after emerging victorious over his Democratic challenger Kamala Harris in the November elections. He first took office in 2016 in a victory over former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton but lost his re-election campaign to Joe Biden in 2020. “Sudani reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s commitment to maintaining strategic relations with the United States,” the statement added. In the statement, Sudani “emphasized the importance of working together to support the foundations of stability, security, and development on both regional and international levels.” Iraq and the US jointly announced bilateral security partnerships in a manner that supports Iraqi forces maintains pressure on ISIS and ends the military mission of the US-led international coalition in 2025. An estimated 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq at the invitation of Baghdad to advise, train, and assist Iraqi security forces against the Islamic State (ISIS), including providing air support and military aid.
