US President Donald Trump intends to receive Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi at the White House on August 20, the White House announced on Friday.
The White House said in a statement that Al-Kazemi's planned visit comes at a crucial stage to the United States and Iraq, "as we continue to cooperate to permanently defeat the Islamic State and confront the challenges resulting from the spread of the new Corona virus epidemic."
The statement added that "the United States and Iraq, as close partners, are looking to expand their relations," adding that they would discuss cooperation in the fields of security, energy and health.
For his part, a statement by the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office issued today, Saturday, confirmed that Al-Kazemi will meet the US President on August 20.
The statement indicated that the visit will include discussing the files of bilateral relations between the two countries, issues of common interest, joint cooperation in the fields of security, energy, health, economy and investment, and ways to enhance them, in addition to the file to address the Corona pandemic, and bilateral cooperation to serve the common interests of the two countries.
Tensions escalated between the two countries after an American raid on Baghdad last January that led to the killing of the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, General Qassem Soleimani, and the Iraqi leader in the Popular Mobilization Forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and their companions near Baghdad airport, prompting the Iraqi parliament to request About 5,800 US soldiers leave the country.
Tensions with Washington have noticeably subsided since Al-Kazemi - a former intelligence chief who has good relations with the United States and its allies in the region - assumed the premiership last May.
And Iraqi government officials had confirmed that Al-Kazemi's visit to Washington would take place very soon.
And Washington and Baghdad began last June a strategic dialogue conducted via video conference to decide on the future of the American soldiers deployed in several military bases in Iraq in the framework of the coalition against ISIS led by Washington.