US-Iraq “strategic dialogue” opens

Audio 01:17

Residents of Baghdad demonstrate against the government on May 10, 2020 (illustration image). AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP

Text by: Lucile Wassermann

A “strategic dialogue” between the United States and Iraq opens this Thursday, to renegotiate all the files that make up the relationship between the two countries.

Publicity

Read more

From our correspondent in Baghdad,

One subject will be at the heart of the discussions: the American military presence in Iraq. Relations between Baghdad and Washington have deteriorated since the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. The Iraqi government is today caught in the crossfire: on the one hand, the majority parties in Parliament demanding the departure of American forces from Iraq; on the other, Washington, a long-time ally, calling on Baghdad to secure its troops, which have been the target of numerous rocket attacks in recent months. On the side of the Iraqi population, the holding of this dialogue divides.

Primordial for some, useless or even uninteresting for others: the discussions planned for this Thursday are not unanimous in Iraq. Hussein, 32, is from Kerbala. For him, this dialogue is welcome in this period of tension: "  I think the moment is perfect and I hope that this will be an opportunity to disarm all groups that are not under the authority of the government.  "

But for others, the timing is bad, not least because the government of Mustafa al Kadhimi has just been formed. Ali, a 32-year-old Baghdadi, considers that this firm is neither prepared nor legitimate to negotiate. I think the timing is bad, " he said. The government is barely two months old! I do not think he is qualified to negotiate with the Americans. And then it's an interim government! Why is he negotiating with the Americans ?  "

Among the Iraqis, few expect concrete results from these discussions. This is the opinion of Mohammed, an employee of an oil company in the south of the country: “  I don't think there will be any results from these discussions. And even if there is an agreement, the government should work to implement these results, and I do not believe in it for an interim government.  "

The first session of discussions will take place on a single day this Thursday.
It will take place by videoconference, due to the health crisis.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Iraq
  • United States

On the same subject

Series

Iraq: the coronavirus, a crisis which is added to other crises

Iraq: rocket attack on the US Embassy