In Washington, there is talk of developing relations with Baghdad and activating the “framework” agreement.
In Washington, there is talk of developing relations with Baghdad and activating the “framework” agreement.
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Washington
Mustafa Hashim
The opening session of “Iraqi Dialogue Day,” hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington, was held on Wednesday. The focus was on the nature of developing the relationship between the two countries and how Iraqi delegations can contribute to this, with reference to the Strategic Framework Agreement and its activation.
Victoria Taylor, director of the Iraq program at the Atlantic Council, confirmed during the session, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that the relationship between Baghdad and Washington is going through a major transitional phase, especially with the approaching end of the international coalition’s mission (Operation Inherent Resolve) and the reduction of the American military presence.
She added that “the security element has been the main pillar of the relationship for the past 20 years, but current circumstances necessitate a change in this approach.”
She indicated that “there is currently a strong logic to focus on the business and investment sector, especially since the current US administration is interested in making economic deals,” while expressing her concern about the decline in the level of exchange between the two countries, saying: “We are no longer in the days when the US president would make weekly calls to candidates or Iraqi leaders.”
She called for increased visits by Iraqi delegations to Washington to explain the issues and understand the nature of the current American focus.
For his part, former Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari stressed that “the failure to develop relations was not due to a lack of legal tools, but rather to the absence of political will in previous periods.”
Zebari strongly defended the Strategic Framework Agreement, which he helped negotiate, stressing that it would have provided Iraq with gains that “countries in the region would envy,” if it had been properly utilized.
Zebari attributed the failure to activate the agreement to “laziness or lack of interest” on the part of subsequent Iraqi governments, which did not follow up on its provisions as they should have.
He noted that “the current US administration seems more serious and specific about the problems in Iraq,” stressing that officials in Baghdad have begun to feel Washington’s seriousness in dealing with the outstanding issues, despite the “utilitarian” nature that may sometimes characterize the dealings.
shafaq.com
