Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met on June 8 at the Intercontinental Hotel Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss their shared goals and strengthen the strategic relationship under the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA).
Pleased to have met Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister @Fuad_Husseein in Riyadh to review progress since our economic-focused Higher Coordinating Committee and discuss our security partnership,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a tweet on June 8.
The SFA, signed in 2008, has been instrumental in shaping the bilateral ties between the two nations since the ousting of Saddam Hussein, according to remarks by Blinken and Hussein before their meeting.
The SFA, a comprehensive agreement spanning over 100 pages, establishes a solid framework for cooperation in various areas, including security, politics, economics, and culture. Its primary objective is to foster stability, democracy, and sovereignty in Iraq while addressing critical issues such as the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the transfer of security responsibilities to Iraqi authorities.
Blinken emphasized the importance of the SFA and the deep partnership it represents in his remarks.
“We have a strong partnership between the United States and Iraq grounded in the Strategic Framework Agreement, and we're working together to broaden the work that we're doing and expand the relationship under that framework," he said in the remarks.
The United States, as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, has played a pivotal role in supporting Iraq’s fight against the terrorist organization, Blinken states in his remarks. After the successful defeat of ISIS in Iraq, the U.S. shifted its focus to advising, enabling, and assisting Iraq in matters of security. This collaborative effort has strengthened Iraq's security apparatus and positioned the nation as a constructive player in the region, advocating for moderation and democracy in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support the United States has provided to Iraq in his remarks before the meeting.
“Our partnership goes back to the struggle together. It goes back to being together in the fight against ISIS," he said in the remarks. “We always, during every meeting, would like to thank you and thank the United States for the support that has been provided to Iraq in our common fight against ISIS.”
The strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq encompasses comprehensive engagement in diplomatic, political, economic, and security domains, a bilateral relations fact sheet reported. Through continued collaboration, both nations aim to realize their shared objectives and contribute to a stable and prosperous Iraq.
