Saudi Arabia appoints new ambassador to Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Saudi Arabia appointed a new ambassador to Iraq on Sunday, forging further closer relations following high profile visits between Riyadh and Baghdad.

 

Abdulaziz Al-Shammari, who was named charge d'affaires of the Saudi embassy in Iraq in October 2016, was sworn in as the new ambassador before King Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported.

 

The king also appointed new ambassadors to several other countries, including Lebanon.

 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has visited Saudi Arabia twice this year, in June and October, a move welcomed by the United States which wants to distance Iraq from Tehran, a regional rival to Riyadh.

 

As his American and Iranian allies face off against each other, Abadi has said he does not want them to turn Iraq into their battlefield.

 

Riyadh and Baghdad announced in October they have established a joint cooperation ministerial council to boost bilateral relations.

 

Direct flights between the two began in October for the first time since Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990. 

 

This recent expansion of ties followed a visit by the Saudi foreign minister to Baghdad in February when he met with Abadi.

 

The former Saudi ambassador, Thamer al-Sabhan, now the minister for Gulf Affairs, caused a controversy in Iraq when he criticized the Iranian-backed Shiite militia.

 

Sabhan, Saudi Arabia’s first appointed ambassador since the Gulf War, sparked outrage in Iraq in 2015 when he claimed that “Iranian terrorist personalities” were trying to punish Sunni Arabs during the battle with ISIS for Fallujah.

 

Iraq called on Riyadh to withdraw its ambassador and demanded Saudi Arabia not interfere in its internal affairs. 

 

Saudi Arabia and Iraq cut their diplomatic ties following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. 

Riyadh also has a consulate in the Kurdistan Region.