Baghdad

- Iraq has opened its arms to its Arab brothers and is providing facilities for them to enter the country without a visa, on the sidelines of the "25th Arabian Gulf Cup" tournament, which is currently being held in Basra Governorate (southern Iraq), in a scene that reflects the depth of ties reinforced by the decision of the Iraqi Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani. By extending all facilities to citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries even after the end of the tournament.

Al-Sudani is adopting a new line of rapprochement with the Arab world, taking advantage of the mistakes of his predecessors. At a ceremony held for Gulf delegations - last Saturday - Al-Sudani described the tournament as having turned into an Arab wedding and a fraternal meeting on the land of Iraq, which is more than just a sporting occasion.

Al-Sudani explained that the facilities that accompanied the championship on the borders will continue beyond that, and that the Iraqis welcome their brothers from the Gulf countries.


The Arab embrace

In this way, the political researcher Ali Al-Baydar went by saying that everyone realized the necessity of approaching the Arab embrace, which is indispensable by resorting to other regional options that only think of its own interest, indicating that Al-Sudani is an Arab figure who understands and is aware of the need for Arabs to help the Iraqis at this stage.

Al-Baydar believes that critical variables have made the Arabs change some of the stereotypes drawn about Iraq.

He stressed that what unites the Arab countries and their systems is more than what separates them, and that they are in dire need today to unite more and strengthen the joints.

He added that at the societal level, there is a general Arab and Iraqi mood that tends to strengthen relations, and this is what forced politicians to take steps to bring positions closer.

He pointed out that the Gulf 25 is an opportunity to restore Iraq's status within the Arab system and an experience that allows Arab and Gulf countries to see the Iraqi reality, and touch the scene directly without relying on what is reported and may contradict the truth sometimes, or shed light on the negative side of Iraq without looking at the positives.

Al-Baydar called on the Sudanese government to invest in the Gulf Cup tournament, and repeat it in various sectors in art, culture and literature, and even in the economic aspects, because of its great role in increasing the Arab presence in the Iraqi arena, which is a step that will lead to a state of twinning and reduce the influence of other regional parties that only care about their interests. .


The Sudanese is getting closer

In turn, the political researcher Nabil Jabbar Al-Tamimi considered that Al-Sudani's upbringing inside Iraq had a clear impact on his personality, which refused to deny the Iraqi-Arab identity, and his meeting with his Arab counterparts - during the Arab-Chinese summit a month ago in Riyadh - may have a clear impact on winning over hearts, and what was observed recently In the Gulf Championship 25, mutual desires between the Gulf and Iraqis alike contributed greatly to changing many of the prevailing intellectual patterns in the Gulf countries and Iraq.

Al-Tamimi believed that the political investment of this social rapprochement between the Gulf and Iraqis is important to open prospects for political and economic cooperation, and may lead to opening the doors for Gulf investment in Iraq, and the doors of the Gulf states to Iraqis as visitors or business and profession owners.

Professor of International Economics, Nawar Al-Saadi (Al-Jazeera)

Economic motives

For his part, Professor of International Economics, Nawar Al-Saadi, described the Sudanese decision to facilitate the Gulf as the right and important decision to achieve benefits for Iraq, hoping to pave the way in the long term for Iraq's accession to the Gulf Cooperation Council because it overlooks the Gulf, in addition to the existence of many commonalities and links between Iraq and the peoples of the Gulf.

Al-Saadi considered the Arab Gulf as the common denominator among the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, but countries with the right to join were excluded, such as Iraq, although Iraq has been demanding to be a member of the council since the eighties.

But after 2003, according to Al-Saadi, Iraq submitted a request to join the council, and the answer was neither rejected nor accepted, because some members viewed Iraq as politically and security turbulent.

Al-Saadi continues his speech by saying that Iraq today has achieved relative security stability, and after the success of the Gulf Championship "with everyone's witness" it became qualified to be a member of the Cooperation Council.

He added that Iraq's geographical location is a strategic depth for the Gulf states, as its borders overlook both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, so there is a great desire from the Iraqis and the Gulf peoples for Iraq to join the council, because of the economic and political benefits for both parties.

Al-Saadi mentioned among these benefits that Iraq's accession to the Council will strengthen it politically, and will facilitate the direction of Gulf capital to invest in Iraq, which is thirsty for many projects, especially in infrastructure and development.