Iraqi PM meets with Syrian interim president, agree on coordination
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Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to respecting the sovereignty and independence of their countries.
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani speaks during Iraq's banking sector reform conference in Babylon Hotel, Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, April 7, 2025 (AP)
In a meeting mediated by Qatar, Syrian Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani held talks focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation and addressing regional challenges.
The encounter is seen as a step toward reinforcing Arab coordination amid shifting dynamics in the region.
In a joint statement, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to respecting the sovereignty and independence of their countries while rejecting all forms of foreign interference.
Intensifying coordination
They agreed to intensify security and intelligence coordination to confront shared threats, including terrorism and cross-border risks.
The discussions also addressed economic priorities, with both sides emphasizing the importance of revitalizing trade, easing the flow of people and goods across borders, and encouraging mutual investments.
A senior Iraqi government source confirmed that Prime Minister al-Sudani made a short visit to Qatar, where he held a tripartite meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and President al-Sharaa.
Iraq calls for inclusivity
The Iraqi prime minister reiterated his country’s support for an inclusive political process in Syria and emphasized the need to protect the country's religious, ethnic, and national diversity.
He also called on the new Syrian government to take serious and practical steps in combating ISIS and restoring stability.
This mirrors statements he made earlier in the month, when on Thursday he confirmed his country's position of supporting Syria's territorial integrity and rejecting foreign interference, noting that "the interest lies in what the Syrian people choose."
During his meeting with numerous directors of research and studies centers in Syria, al-Sudani stressed the importance of security in Syria for Iraq, as "stability and prosperity in both countries is linked to that of the region's." He expressed Iraq's concern relating to foreign interference in Syria and the presence of Israeli occupation forces on Syrian soil.
Increasing cultural cooperation
The Iraqi prime minister also expressed his interest in the work of research and studies centers, indicating that "civil society organizations were a manifestation of the new democratic Iraq," and explaining that "the intertwining and convergence between Iraq and the Levant extends across various social, cultural, and economic frameworks."
He also pointed to the necessity of exploring and addressing issues of national identity that unite all Syrians, and everything that promotes stability, equality, and civil peace, particularly touching on "the importance of working within social justice institutions."
