Al-Sudani: Today, we are not only rebuilding Iraq, but we are also participating in reshaping the features of the Middle East.
Al-Sudani: Today, we are not only rebuilding Iraq, but we are also participating in reshaping the features of the Middle East.
5-8-2025
Al-Maalouma/Baghdad…
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed on Thursday that the time has come to launch a unified Arab initiative, while noting that the development road project, which is nearing completion, can be a pillar for genuine Arab partnerships.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in an article, seen by Al-Maalouma Agency, that “Baghdad is hosting the Arab summit at an exceptional moment in our region, a moment of major transformations, open conflicts, and complex regional challenges. However, as Baghdad receives the Arab leaders, it does not see this as a mere protocol meeting, but rather as a milestone and a historic opportunity to renew the joint Arab action project, regain the initiative, and consolidate the position of the Arab world as an effective force, not an arena for conflict.”
He added: “My government has managed a complex period characterized by major regional challenges and the multidimensional pressure imposed by the Gaza war on Arab countries, whether politically, popularly, or diplomatically. The great sympathy imposed security equations, and we have moved through ambitious development policies from fragility to cohesion.”
He pointed out that “the Arab Summit in Baghdad comes in a transformative context. It is a moment when the Iraqi national will meets the general Arab hope to overcome differences and move towards building an effective and comprehensive Arab cooperation system,” stressing, “Today we need a responsible Arab discourse based on political realism and a belief that solidarity does not mean identicality, but rather respect for specificities within a common goal and destiny.”
He continued, “Iraq believes that strengthening Arab action begins with strengthening relations between Arab capitals, from the Gulf to the Atlantic, on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, activating frank and constructive dialogue, and unifying positions on international issues. The strategic geographical location of the Arab world, its vast wealth, its ambitious youth, and its cultural heritage all give it a tremendous capacity to transform into an independent and balanced force on the international stage.”
He continued, “The challenges we face—from repeated Israeli aggression on Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, to internal divisions in some Arab countries, to regional and international interventions—threaten not only the security of these peoples, but also our collective will as a nation.” He noted that “the time has come to launch a unified Arab initiative that goes beyond the humanitarian dimension to support the building of a nation-state based on the constitution, dignity, and diversity.”
He added, “At a moment when effective international engagement for the benefit of the peoples of the region is absent, the importance of a comprehensive Arab development strategy increases. Therefore, Iraq calls for the adoption of an integrated economic approach that addresses development disparities and enhances the collective capacity to confront food, energy, and supply chain crises.” He emphasized that “the ‘Development Road’ project, which is nearing completion, is a practical model for this approach and can serve as a foundation for genuine Arab partnerships.”
He explained that “Iraq does not see itself as a solo player. Rather, it believes its true role lies in bringing its brothers together, restoring confidence in Arab institutions, and establishing a new era of political and economic partnership. Arab national security is indivisible and cannot be achieved without effective cooperation, balanced policies, and strong institutions that protect the nation’s supreme interests.”
He explained: “Today, we are not only rebuilding Iraq, but we are participating in reshaping the Middle East, through a balanced foreign policy, conscious leadership, development initiatives, and strategic partnerships,” directing “an appeal from Baghdad to all Arab capitals: it is time to start anew, on new ground, with a new methodology, and a new will.”
He concluded by saying: “Baghdad, the capital of Arab thought and shared history, opens its arms to the Arab Summit, confident that what unites us is greater than what divides us, and that we have a precious opportunity to shape a more cohesive and dignified future for our peoples.”
almaalomah.me
