WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will host Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi at the White House in mid‑July, both governments confirmed Tuesday, in a meeting expected to focus on security cooperation, regional stability and the future of U.S.–Iraq relations.
The announcement followed talks in Baghdad between Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, Tom Barrack, and al‑Zaidi. Barrack conveyed Trump’s invitation and discussed efforts to disarm and dissolve armed groups operating outside state authority, a longstanding challenge for Iraq’s government. A joint statement from the prime minister’s office and the U.S. embassy said Trump “looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Al‑Zaidi to the White House.”
Al‑Zaidi’s visit will be his first official trip to Washington since taking office and comes at a time when Iraq is seeking to strengthen state institutions while balancing ties with both the United States and regional powers. For Washington, the meeting highlights its continuing role in Iraq’s security and governance more than two decades after the U.S.‑led invasion.
The talks are expected to address military cooperation, economic ties and Iraq’s efforts to assert authority over militias, an issue that has shaped its domestic politics and foreign relations. Analysts say the meeting will be closely watched across the Middle East, where Iraq’s stability is seen as critical to regional security and to the U.S. strategy of maintaining influence in the region.
