Iraq’s Zaidi takes push for new partnerships to Europe

Iraq’s Zaidi takes push for new partnerships to Europe The French talks will have a strong energy component. Macron and Zaidi are expected to discuss the effects of regional instability on trade routes and energy supplies. Sunday 13/09/2026 Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi chairs the Ministerial Council for National Security in Baghdad, July 29, 2026. BAGHDAD Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is taking his push to reposition Iraq as a broader economic and strategic partner to Europe this week, travelling to France and Germany for talks expected to span energy, infrastructure, investment, technology and security. Zaidi leaves Baghdad on Sunday for Paris, where he will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday in his first European visit as prime minister. The trip, made at Macron’s invitation, is intended to strengthen the partnership between Baghdad and Paris and lay the groundwork for new agreements across several sectors. The Iraqi prime minister’s office said the two sides would discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest, alongside the broader frameworks for cooperation in the economy, security, energy and education. The expanded talks are expected to result in the signing of several memoranda of understanding, while France and Iraq are also expected to conclude a number of oil agreements. Details of those deals have not yet been released. The agenda outlined by the French presidency is broader still, covering energy, transport, economic infrastructure, water resources and healthcare, as well as the expansion of security and military cooperation. The breadth of the discussions reflects an effort by Baghdad to turn its diplomatic outreach into concrete economic partnerships at a time when Iraq is seeking to attract investment, strengthen domestic capabilities and reduce the vulnerability of its economy to regional instability. Zaidi has repeatedly stressed the need for Iraq to build foreign relations around practical interests. “Iraq must regain its position and build its relations on the basis of mutual interests,” he said, setting out a vision in which diplomatic partnerships are measured increasingly by their contribution to development, investment and economic growth. His government has also placed particular emphasis on cooperation with France as a means of “opening new doors for cooperation, investment and development”. The French talks will have a strong energy component. Macron and Zaidi are expected to discuss the effects of regional instability on trade routes and energy supplies, particularly Iraq’s oil exports. According to the French presidency, the two countries will work to restart oil exports with the aim of easing pressure on energy markets, supporting the Iraqi economy and helping to protect purchasing power. Security will remain part of the relationship. France and Iraq are expected to reaffirm their commitment to combating terrorism and preventing Islamic State from rebuilding its capabilities, against the backdrop of anticipated changes to the international coalition’s mission. The two countries will pursue those efforts while respecting their respective sovereignty, the French presidency said. For Iraq, however, the European tour is also about expanding the country’s economic options. Germany is expected to provide a complementary focus to the Paris talks, with Zaidi highlighting knowledge, technology and industrial cooperation as key areas for developing the relationship with Berlin. The government has presented the two European destinations as part of a wider effort to build partnerships that can transfer technology, develop industrial capacity and convert Iraq’s economic potential into longer-term growth. That approach marks a shift from treating international relations primarily as a political or security exercise towards using them as instruments for economic development. Zaidi’s European outreach follows an intensive round of foreign diplomacy since he became prime minister. His first overseas trip, to the United States in July, included talks with President Donald Trump and the signing of several agreements with US companies. He then travelled to Iran and Turkey, where he met Pezeshkian and Erdogan and oversaw the signing of numerous memoranda of understanding. The latest tour to France and Germany gives that diplomatic push a European dimension, with Baghdad seeking partnerships that combine investment, energy, infrastructure, technology and industrial development. The timing also allows the Iraqi government to reinforce its message that the country intends to expand its network of international relationships rather than remain defined solely by its regional alliances or security concerns.