Iraqi PM Concludes France Visit With Military and Energy Accords

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi officially concluded his two-day official visit to France on Monday, according to announcements from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office. Following the conclusion of his engagements in France, the prime minister is expected to travel to Germany as the second major phase of his ongoing European tour.

During the high-level diplomatic meetings in France, representatives from Iraq and France formally agreed to establish a comprehensive framework for the future purchase of advanced weapons and military equipment. This foundational agreement aims to bolster the defense capabilities of Iraq through structured bilateral military cooperation with French defense industries and state authorities.

In a related defense development, a formal expression of interest was signed between the Ministry of Defense of Iraq and the French company 'Hermatan AI'. This newly concluded document specifically focuses on collaboration regarding autonomous air defense systems, marking a notable technological step forward in the security partnership between the two nations.

Beyond defense and military procurement, the official visit also encompassed broader diplomatic and strategic discussions involving multiple institutions and corporate entities, including TotalEnergies and the French Development Agency. The extensive talks touched upon critical areas of energy cooperation and broader bilateral development initiatives between Baghdad and Paris.

During their meetings, French leader Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi also addressed pressing regional security concerns. Both leaders made a joint call for the reduction of tensions across the Middle East, while concurrently reaffirming the fundamental right to freedom of navigation for international shipping lanes, specifically including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.