Relations between Iraq and the United States are heating up. The authorities of the two countries have scheduled a videoconference this Thursday, June 11.

This return to dialogue is explained by the arrival of a new Prime Minister in Baghdad, the former intelligence chief Moustafa al-Kazimi, who passes for being close to the Americans and his Arab allies. Above all, for the moment, the pro-Iran factions are in retreat.

"US-Iraqi relations will not be redefined overnight"

But the videoconference will only be the beginning of a long process without any radical change in perspective, warn experts and officials. Together, senior officials from the two countries have the main topics defined, which will then be entrusted to committees for long-term discussions.

"US-Iraqi relations will not be redefined overnight," said Robert Ford of the Middle East Institute straight away. But, "for once, there are the right people, in the right place and at the right time", continues this former American diplomat who himself took part in the last "strategic dialogue" in 2008.

At the time, the United States established the conditions for its departure after invading Iraq. Since then, their troops have returned, far fewer in number, to lead a coalition against the Islamic State group.

More than two and a half years after the "victory" over the jihadists, the thousands of American soldiers in Iraq will once again be a central subject. Because after about thirty rocket attacks against Americans, the assassination in January by Washington of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant in Baghdad, anti-American sentiment has once again flamed. A rocket also struck Wednesday in the green area of ​​Baghdad, very protected, where there are government and diplomatic buildings, without causing any casualties.

Shia MPs also voted to deport foreign soldiers, and Washington threatened to hit dozens of paramilitary sites.

The impact of the new Prime Minister

But the arrival of Moustafa al-Kazimi changed the situation. The man has taken the reins of a country in the midst of an economic crisis and which is still demanding justice for some 550 demonstrators killed in the repression of an unprecedented revolt.

If his predecessor Adel Abdel Mahdi never managed to get an invitation to Washington, Moustafa al-Kazimi, in office for a month, already has his card for the White House this year, according to two government officials. "There was a problem of trust with the old cabinet, it has changed," insists one of them.

In this climate, all subjects will be discussed Thursday, primarily that of American soldiers. "Will we still be able to fly surveillance drones? Do the Iraqis still want our information?" Wonders a high-ranking American coalition official.

Already, the coalition is only on three Iraqi bases, against a dozen previously. However, a drastic reduction seems highly improbable as the jihadist threat remains present, argue the other countries of the coalition, suspended in the American-Iraqi dialogue, for which they are not a party.

With AFP and Reuters

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