Iraq, UK agree to boost cooperation in various fields

Chenar Chalak

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi and British officials held a two-day strategic dialogue in London earlier this week, with the UK reiterating its commitment to supporting Baghdad in various sectors and the two sides agreeing to increase cooperation in the fields of security, economy, human rights, and others.

Iraq’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Fuad Hussein on Monday headed an Iraqi delegation to London upon the invite of his British counterpart, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, meeting with a number of the UK’s top officials.

Hussein and Cleverly discussed ways to increase Baghdad-London bilateral ties during their meeting, with the foreign secretary reaffirming the UK’s willingness to provide Iraq with help in “all the sectors” where it is in need of assistance, according to a statement from the Iraqi foreign ministry.

Hussein also “spoke of Iraq’s role in the framework of promoting regional stability and bringing views close together between countries of the region, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic republic of Iran, and Iraq’s willingness to continue making efforts to decrease tensions in the region.”

Baghdad played a key role in the restoration of ties between Tehran and Riyadh in March, having hosted several rounds of talks aimed at reconciliation after the two countries severed their ties in 2016.

The Iraqi foreign minister also met with Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, discussing the UK’s ongoing support to Iraq in strengthening its security, the importance of the rehabilitation and reintegration of Iraqis returning from northeast Syria’s (Rojava) al-Hol camp, and both sides’ commitment to the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).

The UK has helped train the Kurdish Peshmerga during the war on ISIS and is part of a team of international allies working on major reforms of the Peshmerga ministry. There are up to 1400 British personnel in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq providing military assistance and advice to the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces.

The Iraqi and British officials also discussed working together on tackling the threats of climate change, continuing cooperation on human rights issues, developing Iraq’s health sector, ensuring safe and legal migration, and encouraging greater investment in Iraq.

“Both sides welcomed the Government of Iraq’s ambitious economic reform agenda - and agreed on the necessity of rapidly delivering non-oil growth, private sector job creation and improving access to finance,” read a statement from the UK government.

The UK-Iraq strategic dialogue aims to build on the Strategic Partnership signed between the countries in 2021. The next strategic dialogue is set to be held in Baghdad in 2024.

Iraq is among the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including water and food insecurity, according to the United Nations. It is facing a severe water shortage because of reduced precipitation, higher temperatures, and waste and mismanagement.

Tens of thousands of people from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region take on perilous routes out of the country towards Europe on a yearly basis in hopes of escaping the endless crises in the country, including the lack of employment, political instability, and corruption.

Over 750,000 people have migrated out of the country since 2015, according to data from the Summit Foundation for Refugee and Displaced Affairs (Lutka), also recording at least 319 migrant deaths during that period, and adding that the whereabouts of 236 others remain unknown.