US ‘eager’ to work with Sudani’s cabinet: Blinken

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Thursday spoke on the phone with Iraq’s new prime minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, stressing that Washington is “eager” to work with his cabinet, according to a tweet by Blinken. 

“The U.S. is eager to work with the Iraqi government to confront Iraq’s challenges and deliver results for the people of Iraq,” Blinken said in his tweet, reaffirming the US “partnership” with the Iraqi government.   

Sudani was tasked with forming Iraq’s next government on October 13, after more than a year of political bickering since the parliamentary elections in October 2021.  Iraq’s parliament convened late last month, approving Sudani’s cabinet.

There was immediately no statement from Sudani’s office regarding the phone call. 

Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, said in a statement that Blinken told Sudani that Washington wants to work with Baghdad and Iraqi people “to improve respect for human rights, increase economic opportunities, advance Iraq’s energy independence, and address the climate crisis.” 

“He reaffirmed our commitment to supporting Iraq in the enduring defeat of ISIS,” added Price, referring to the Islamic State group which controlled swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014 but was territorially defeated three years later. 

Blinken and Sudani  “also discussed their mutual commitment to the U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement and shared interest in preserving Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” noted the spokesperson. 

US Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, spoke during the annual Middle East Research Institute (MERI) Forum in Erbil on Wednesday. 

She stated that the main priorities Washington has when it comes to Iraq include challenging climate change which has had a devastating impact on Iraq, as well as finding a way to “promote a vibrant private sector.” 

“Despite the many uncertainties, challenges, and questions facing the new government and the Iraqi people, we think this is an opportunity for change and progress,” Romanowski added.