Iraqi Prime Minister Visits Washington

Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, speaks to Iraqi lawmakers before submitting his government in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, May 14, 2026. (Iraqi Presidency Office / AP)

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is visiting Washington this week and on July 12, 2026, he wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post about why he was there. Spoiler Alert: He wants to explore opportunity creation – particularly economic opportunity, but also opportunities to advance regional stability. As he stated in his opinion piece, both he and President Trump believe in results, and the focus of their discussion was investment.

Al-Zaidi stated that he was pushing through vital reforms to create a more attractive investment climate for those who wish to help develop Iraq’s infrastructure as well as its energy, manufacturing, technology, and digital economy sectors. Global confidence and regional stability are mandatory for any kind of real investment, said al-Zaidi. “I carry to the United States a message of confidence: that a sovereign Iraq stands apart from regional alignments and conflicts, and chooses instead the path of development, with an open hand extended to its friends.”