ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — United States President Joe Biden will host Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi on July 26, the White House announced on Friday.
Kadhimi’s visit “will highlight the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq and advance bilateral cooperation under the Strategic Framework Agreement,” read the White House statement.
“The visit will also focus on key areas of shared interest including through education, health, cultural, energy, and climate initiatives,” it added.
The Strategic Framework Agreement guides US-Iraqi relations in all fields, including security. In their latest round of strategic dialogue in April, the US agreed to remove all combat troops out of Iraq. There are currently 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq, part of the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS).
On Thursday, US envoy Brett McGurk was in Baghdad for meetings with Iraqi leaders, including Kadhimi, laying the groundwork for the prime minister’s trip to Washington. They discussed the mechanism for withdrawing combat troops.
Iraqi militias backed by Iran have repeatedly attacked US interests and positions in the country to force their withdrawal. They have carried out at least four attacks this month, including firing 14 rockets at Ain al-Asad airbase and targeting Erbil’s airport with an explosive-laden drone.
They stepped up their attacks after the US assassinated deputy militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January 2020, after which the Iraqi parliament passed a non-binding resolution demanding American forces withdraw from the country.
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