Saudi officials to visit Iraq to discuss security coordination: interior ministry
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubair (L) and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (R) during a meeting in Baghdad.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Saudi officials will arrive in Iraq soon to discuss security coordination between both countries, according to the Iraqi interior ministry’s spokesman.
Ministry spokesperson Saad Maan told Saudi newspaper al-Watan that “the next days will see Saudi officials arriving in Baghdad for the activation of the coordination committees formed by both countries in the security field”.
According to Maan, “security cooperation between Riyadh and Baghdad has reached an advanced stage on several levels, including border control and intelligence sharing in a way that ensures regional security stability”.
Relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and the Shia-dominated Iraqi government have been tensional over the past few years due to Saudi Arabia’s opposition to the involvement of Iraqi Shia paramilitary forces in the fight against Islamic State militants. Saudi Arabia has always been irritated by the influence of Shia Iran, its arch regional enemy, over Iraqi politics.
But the past months have seen an obvious rapprochement between both countries, with top-level officials exchanging visits and expressing eagerness to boost political, security and economic cooperation.
In October, more than 60 Saudi companies attended the Baghdad International Exhibition.
In July, both countries established a joint coordination council to boost ties on all levels.