Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and the cooperation agreements with the two countries angered the Iraqi people; Because the wounds of the Iraqis have not healed from the terrorist incidents that were supported by these two countries.
Aside from a discussion on border security, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed five agreements on Wednesday covering financial, commercial, economic, cultural and media fields, the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV channel reported.
The Iraqi prime minister said he and his delegation of senior ministers sought to further boost trade and economic cooperation with the kingdom during a day-long visit to Riyadh.
In a statement published by Saudi state media, the two countries agreed to establish a joint fund with an estimated capital of $3bn, a “contribution from the kingdom” to boost investment in the Iraqi economy.
Saudi Arabia’s investments in Iraq are expected to rise to 10 billion riyals ($2.67bn) from just over two billion riyals currently, the state-run SPA news agency said.
The countries also agreed to maintain energy cooperation to maintain stability in global oil markets, the joint statement added.
Iraq is the second-largest producer in the OPEC oil cartel, outranked only by Saudi Arabia.
Al-Kadhimi, whose government has sought to fast-track foreign investment including Saudi support for energy and agriculture, is pushing for deeper cooperation with Riyadh.
The Iraqi leader was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip as prime minister last July, but the visit was canceled at the last minute when King Salman was hospitalized for surgery to remove his gallbladder.
Iraqi users launched a hashtag titled “Compatriots are Satan’s Brothers” calling for an end to UAE-Saudi Arabia interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, saying the country is gradually freeing itself from terrorism and moving towards independence, freedom, and liberation.
Users warned of closer ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, saying that if this continued, it would cause Iraq to compromise with the occupying regime. At the same time, they stressed that the axis of resistance will be an obstacle to Israeli and American plans.
Some other users also stated that Iraq has never seen a brilliant history with Saudi Arabia and the UAE, but that Iraqis have always witnessed terrorism and hostility, and conspiracies between Iraq and other free people in the region, as well as the compromise of Al Saud and Al Zayed with the Zionists. . If anyone has a different view, he has in fact collaborated with the enemies of Iraq and has taken steps to serve the compromise with the occupying regime and the murderers of the Yemeni children. Users stated that proximity to the compromising countries means the approval of the Zionist regime in occupying more areas.
