Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi left Baghdad early on Monday, 13 July, for Washington on his first official visit since taking office less than two months ago, in a move widely viewed as one of the most significant political milestones of his government.
The visit comes as he carries a complex agenda of political, security and economic issues, led by the future of armed factions , relations with Iran, the future of the US military presence, and economic and investment cooperation between Baghdad and Washington.
The visit comes at an exceptional moment for Iraq, as the government faces mounting pressure on several fronts, most notably the financial crisis and repercussions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
It also comes amid continuing debate over the armed factions' file and the government's broad anti-corruption campaign, which has run up against entrenched political and economic influence networks within state institutions.
In a brief statement, the prime minister's media office said that "Al-Zaidi left the capital, Baghdad, for the United States on an official visit at the head of a government and economic delegation."
The delegation accompanying Al-Zaidi includes more than 20 prominent Iraqi figures from political, security and economic sectors.
A senior government source, speaking to The New Arab on condition of anonymity, said that "the visit has a strategic character and will address the most sensitive issues between the two countries".
The source noted that "the talks will include the government's plan to dismantle the influence of the armed factions, withdraw their weapons, end their control over certain areas, halt their economic activities and prevent them from using Iraqi territory to threaten neighbouring countries."
The source added that "the agenda also includes discussions on not renewing the agreement to import gas from Iran, accelerating the electricity interconnection project with the Gulf states, and the project to export Iraqi oil through Syria's Baniyas port , in addition to economic files."
These issues come at a time when limiting weapons to state control is regarded as the main challenge facing Al-Zaidi's government.
Since taking office, the government has declared that restoring state control over security and ending the existence of multiple centres of power are key priorities.
However, this matter faces broad resistance from some armed factions, which possess military, economic and political capabilities and maintain close ties with Iran, making any practical steps against them highly complex both domestically and regionally.
Ahead of his visit to Washington, Al-Zaidi said in an article published by The Washington Post o n Sunday that the visit aims to deepen the Iraq-US partnership.
He said he would discuss investment in Iraq with US President Donald Trump and work to attract major US companies to infrastructure, energy, industry, technology and digital economy projects.
Factions issue a warning
The "State Administration" Coalition, which includes the Coordination Framework forces and excludes the Sadrist Movement and the Sunni and Kurdish parties, expressed support for the visit.
In a statement, it said it "held a meeting last night attended by the prime minister, president, parliament speaker, the president of the Supreme Judicial Council and representatives of the Kurdistan Region and reviewed the visit agenda."
It added that "those present affirmed their support for anti-corruption efforts , limiting weapons to state control and strengthening the authority of the state."
Meanwhile, the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" factions voiced their opposition to the visit.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the second in two days, they said: "We in the Islamic Resistance announce our principled rejection of this visit. Our support for the government in fighting corruption does not mean granting it an open mandate for all its policies, nor does it justify passing projects that mortgage the future of coming generations to companies directly or indirectly linked to the interests of the occupation (the United States). It has been proven that a number of them have established partnerships with the Zionist enemy."
The factions added that "the continued presence of US forces on Iraqi soil constitutes an occupation, and one of the government's priorities should be to work, through all available means, to end it in accordance with the announced timetable."
They stressed their opposition to "trade and contracts with any country that harbours hostility towards our resisting people or seeks to confiscate political decision-making and violate sovereignty".
"At the same time, we reject any monopoly or economic domination over Iraq's resources and warn against replacing military occupation with an even more dangerous economic occupation," the statement added.
The factions also warned "any monopolistic company seeking to exploit Iraq's wealth or violate the rights of its people", stressing that "the option of defending the homeland and its legitimate interests will remain in place."
The significance of the visit extends beyond bilateral issues.
It is also linked to rapidly evolving regional developments, as Baghdad seeks to maintain a delicate balance between its strategic partnership with the United States and its political and economic relations with Iran amid growing US pressure to reduce Tehran's influence in Iraq .
Article translated from Arabic by Afrah Almatwari. To read the original, click here .