What resulted from Al-Kazemi-Trump meeting?

Since Al-Kazemi's arrival in Washington, Iraqi officials sought to shed light on energy and economic cooperation rather than the sensitive adjacent issue with US forces.

In January, Iraqi lawmakers approved a resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces after a senior Iranian military official (Qassem Soleimani) and an Iraqi official (Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis) were killed by a drone outside Baghdad airport.

This incident resulted in long-term tensions coinciding with the desire of Iraqi politicians to manage good relations between the United States, the main Western partner, as well as with Iran, its eastern neighbor, and bitter opponent of Washington.

Before leaving for the United States, Al-Kazemi received Ismail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, and told him that "no country" could interfere in Iraqi-US relations, according to a source close to the talks and AFP.

No withdrawal timetable

The official visit of Al-Kazemi, who was a journalist and a former intelligence official, to the United States, is his first as head of the Iraqi government, who took office three months ago after the ouster of his predecessor amid mass protests.

Al-Kazemi said during his visit to Washington on Thursday that Iraq no longer needed US combat forces to defend itself against ISIS, but that it would need continued foreign military assistance to help bolster its security forces.

"We certainly do not need combat forces in Iraq, but we do need training, strengthening capabilities and security cooperation," he told reporters after a meeting at the White House with President Trump.

But the two leaders refused to provide specific information about the deadline for the withdrawal of the more than 52,000 US troops present in Iraq, in line with the request of Iraqi lawmakers.

When asked about any decisions on troop levels, Al-Kazemi said that "technical teams" from both countries would work to elaborate details about the future presence of forces.

Al-Kazemi said that the US president "linked the presence of American forces to the extent of Baghdad's need for those forces." When a reporter asked Trump about his schedule for

withdrawing 52,000 US troops from Iraq, Trump turned to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who stated that US forces would leave "as soon as we can complete the mission."

In this context, a senior US official considered, according to Agence France-Presse, that the successes against ISIS enabled the start of "reducing the global presence" in Iraq, and this process will continue.

The official said, "There is no timetable or fixed numbers, but the matter will definitely be on the table during our assessment of Iraq's security needs."

Although the Obama administration withdrew large numbers of troops from Iraq, it brought back thousands to combat the rise of ISIS in 2014.

Although ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been largely dismantled, US officials have said that as many as 20,000 scattered fighters continue to launch attacks.

Referring to the extent of the challenges he faces at home, Al-Kazemi later admitted that he had limited power to make sweeping changes in his country, saying that he currently had a "paper sword" instead of the iron he needed.

He said he needed to bolster the internal security forces, which are plagued by sectarianism, favoritism and corruption. But he said, "I cannot bear to go into a confrontation when my tools are not enough."

As for the Turkish attacks on Başur of Kurdistan, Trump said, “He will speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. We have a very good relationship with Turkey and with President Erdogan.”

To not make room for Tehran ...huge deals with Baghdad

Five American companies have signed agreements with Iraq aimed at strengthening the latter's energy independence from Iran.

And the US Department of Energy said in a statement that Honeywell International, Baker Hughes, General Electric, Steller Energy and Chevron signed trade agreements worth up to eight billion dollars with the Iraqi ministers of oil and electricity.

"These agreements are important for the future of energy in Iraq, and I am confident that the same companies that enabled the United States to achieve energy independence will use their vast experience to help Iraq achieve its full potential in the energy sector," said US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillett in a statement.

General Electric Company signed two agreements with the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, which could have a role in solving some of the chronic electricity problems in Iraq.

Under agreements worth more than $ 1.2 billion, GE will conduct maintenance work for Iraqi power stations and boost the country's transmission network.

To save electricity, Iraq still imports directly from Iran the electricity and gas it uses in its power plants, but it still faces shortages during hot seasons.

A senior US administration official, speaking separately to reporters, said before the Energy Department’s statement that the discussions would also include national security issues in addition to economic cooperation.

The White House: Our partnership with Baghdad is strategic

The White House: Our partnership with Baghdad is strategic Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and US President Donald Trump issued a joint statement in which they affirmed their commitment to "long-term" bilateral security coordination to confront "threats."

"The strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States is based on a common desire to achieve security and prosperity," the statement said, adding: "Together, the international anti-ISIS coalition, led by the United States, and the Iraqi security forces have been able to destroy ISIS and its caliphate, and we are continuing to coordinate in order to make sure." That ISIS will not pose a threat to Iraq, or any other country. "

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