Iraq PM Ali al-Zaidi’s US visit to focus on oil and investment deals
Iraq PM Ali al-Zaidi embarks on a week-long US visit to meet President Trump, aiming to sign oil and gas memorandums and attract US investment to boost production capacity.
Iraq’s prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, will travel to the United States on Monday for his first international trip since taking office, the Iraqi government said. The visit, which spans a week, includes a scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump and a series of planned discussions intended to deepen economic, trade and investment ties. Oil and gas agreements are expected to feature prominently on the agenda as Baghdad seeks partners to expand output after recent export disruptions.
Planned meetings and official agenda
Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi confirmed al-Zaidi’s itinerary and said the trip will focus on strengthening bilateral economic relations. The prime minister is scheduled to hold high-level talks in Washington aimed at creating conditions for increased US private-sector participation in Iraq’s energy sector. Delegations from both countries are due to negotiate memorandums of understanding and framework agreements that Iraqi officials describe as catalysts for boosting production capacity.
Details on expected oil and gas deals
Iraqi officials indicated that the agreements will include multiple memorandums in the oil and gas sector designed to expedite investment and technical cooperation. Baghdad wants to bring in US companies with the engineering and capital needed to develop fields and upgrade infrastructure. The measures are intended to accelerate oil output growth while transferring technology and managerial know-how to local operators.
Economic objectives behind the visit
Al-Zaidi’s government is pressing to diversify sources of revenue and secure foreign direct investment after a period of revenue losses, officials said. Those losses were driven in part by interruptions to exports tied to regional tensions and logistical challenges in strategic waterways. The prime minister has described the US visit as an opportunity to attract financing and long-term partnerships that can stabilise public finances and support reconstruction and power generation projects.
Security and anticorruption context
The trip comes amid a broader push by Baghdad to address corruption and security concerns that have drawn international attention. In late June, Iraqi security forces carried out raids across Baghdad that led to the arrest of several prominent figures as part of an anti-corruption campaign ordered by al-Zaidi. The prime minister has argued that demonstrating progress on governance reforms will reassure prospective foreign investors and strengthen cooperation with international partners.
Strains in US–Iraq relations and recent outreach
Relations between Washington and Baghdad have at times been strained by issues including the presence of US troops, Baghdad’s ties to Tehran, and the activities of Iran-backed armed groups inside Iraq. The new prime minister assumed office under pressure to disarm militias seen as threats to diplomatic and security cooperation with the United States. Washington signalled a willingness to engage with al-Zaidi after his nomination in April, offering public congratulations and an openness to deeper collaboration.
Finance arrangements and energy-for-service proposal
Officials said one of the agreements under negotiation would establish a mechanism in which Iraq would deposit oil into a fund—reported plans refer to daily deposits on a large scale—in exchange for technical assistance to improve electricity generation. Baghdad has also seen renewed cooperation on the handling of oil revenues, with US institutions resuming arrangements to process cash shipments connected to Iraqi crude income. Iraqi ministers view these steps as practical measures to stabilise liquidity and prioritise the rehabilitation of power plants.
Iraq has already signed several energy-sector accords with US companies in recent months, and ministers expect further contracts to be announced during and after the Washington meetings. Iraqi and US negotiators are conscious that any new deals must balance commercial viability with domestic political sensitivities and legal frameworks in Baghdad.
Al-Zaidi’s trip will be closely watched by regional capitals and investors, as its outcomes could influence Iraq’s near-term production trajectory and the pace of infrastructure rebuilding. Success in securing tangible US investment and technical support would bolster the prime minister’s pledge to revive the economy while also addressing security and governance priorities that have shaped Baghdad’s foreign policy choices.