The Crown Prince congratulates the Iraqi Prime Minister and affirms the depth of relations
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, sent a cable of congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on the occasion of his appointment and the formation of the new Iraqi government, and his assumption of the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq. In his cable, His Royal Highness expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes for success and prosperity to His Excellency, and for further progress and prosperity to the brotherly Iraqi people.
The telegram read: “On the occasion of your appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, we are pleased to express to Your Excellency our sincere congratulations and best wishes for success and prosperity, asking God Almighty to grant you success in serving Iraq and its brotherly people, and looking forward to working with Your Excellency to strengthen the bonds of brotherly relations between our two countries and peoples, and enhance them in all fields.”.
A delicate political context and historical background
This appointment comes in the wake of a complex political phase in Iraq, with the formation of al-Sudani’s government following more than a year of political deadlock after the parliamentary elections in October 2021. The “Coordination Framework,” which includes prominent Shiite political forces, managed to form the largest bloc in parliament after the withdrawal of the Sadrists, paving the way for al-Sudani’s appointment and the formation of his government, which won parliamentary confidence in October 2022. This message from the Saudi leadership is considered an important step in supporting Iraq’s stability and sovereignty.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
This congratulatory message carries significant political implications on both the regional and bilateral levels. Bilaterally, the message reflects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's keenness to strengthen and develop relations with Iraq, which have witnessed remarkable improvement in recent years. This comes within the framework of the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council, which aims to enhance cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, investment, and security. Supporting the stability of the new Iraqi government is in the interest of both countries, as it opens broader horizons for economic partnership and contributes to achieving the Kingdom's Vision 2030 through regional integration.
Regionally, Iraq's stability is a cornerstone of the security and stability of the entire Middle East. This diplomatic move underscores the Kingdom's policy of supporting Arab states and strengthening joint Arab action to address challenges. The Sudanese government, with the support of its neighbors like the Kingdom, is expected to play a positive role in reducing regional tensions and focusing on domestic development, which will benefit all the peoples of the region.
