President Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Tuesday hailed a new era of relations in which American oil companies in the Mideast country will effectively replace U.S. soldiers.
Mr. Trump said it’s a far cry from the U.S. military invasion in 2003 that resulted in a lengthy troop presence in Iraq.
“We don’t need the military there,” Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office alongside Mr. al-Zaidi. “Our oil companies are going in there at levels that have never been seen before.”
Mr. Trump said Energy Secretary Chris Wright will announce a series of oil partnerships with Iraq in the coming days.
“Iraq has tremendous potential because of their oil,” Mr. Trump said. “They don’t want to do business with others. They want to do business with America, and that’s good.”
Mr. al-Zaidi underscored the transition.
“By the 30th of September, the U.S. forces will be out of Iraq, while U.S. companies will be inside Iraq,” he told Mr. Trump.
Mr. al-Zaidi, 41, was sworn in on May 14. He has a background in business and banking, not politics, and is Iraq’s youngest prime minister.
Making his first U.S. visit, Mr. al-Zaidi exchanged a warm handshake with Mr. Trump after arriving at the West Wing doors in a black SUV adorned with American and Iraqi flags.
“We love Iraq,” Mr. Trump said before pointing to Mr. al-Zaidi. “They are very well-represented, I can tell you that.”
The president supported Mr. al-Zaidi during this year’s election. Mr. Trump’s administration felt the main alternative, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, was too closely aligned with Tehran.
Mr. Trump threatened to cut off aid and said on social media that Iraq would have “ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom” under Mr. al-Maliki.
“I was very unhappy with the man that was supposed to win the election,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday.
He said he had a “tremendous chemistry” with Mr. al-Zaidi.
“We have a fantastic champion, a new champion,” Mr. Trump said. “He’s going to be there for a long time. He’s been a great fighter and a great fan of America.”
The president said he invited Mr. al-Zaidi to stick around for an impromptu lunch, underscoring their friendship.
The prime minister is pursuing economic agreements with the U.S. while the administration pushes the new Iraqi leader to disarm Iran-backed militias that operate within Iraq.
The Treasury Department issued sanctions on the militias, including Kata’ib Hizballah and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haqq, in April.
One of the militias was linked to the kidnapping of American journalist Shelly Kittleson in Iraq. She was taken from a Baghdad street on March 31 and freed a week later.
Treasury also slapped sanctions on an Iraqi official who facilitated the sale of Iranian oil.
Mr. Trump is meeting with the Iraqi leader as the U.S. and Iran tip back into a full-scale war.
The countries were unable to fulfill a mid-June memorandum of understanding designed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and usher in lasting peace.
Instead, the U.S. and Iran are jockeying over control of the strait and exchanging airstrikes, threatening to upend energy markets and drag the Gulf region back into war.
Mr. Trump plans to reimpose his blockade of Iranian ports at 4 p.m. Tuesday and seek U.S. investments from Gulf nations as payment for security guarantees in the waterway.
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