French President to Visit Iraq in June

AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron & Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Iraq in June, leading a large ministerial delegation as Paris seeks to deepen defence and economic cooperation with Baghdad, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

Amer al-Fayez, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s foreign relations committee, announced that President Macron will visit Iraq next month to attend the upcoming Baghdad Conference, a regional summit bringing together leaders from Iraq’s neighbouring states. 

He noted that President Macron’s visit is expected to result in a series of bilateral agreements, particularly in the fields of energy and military cooperation.

He also said that joint Iraqi-French committees have already begun coordinating key areas of discussion ahead of the visit. He described the trip as "highly significant for Iraq across several domains", noting that Baghdad is finalising security and logistical arrangements.

Furthermore, Fayez noted that the talks will focus on potential new arms deals, enhanced security and intelligence cooperation, as well as investment opportunities for French firms across various sectors.

"France is a strategic partner, and Iraq is working to ensure the visit strengthens its regional and international standing," he said.

France-Iraq relations, which flourished in the 1970s and 1980s — particularly in defence and energy — cooled after 2003 but have regained momentum in recent years. In 2023, French energy giant TotalEnergies signed a $27 billion deal with Iraq to develop gas fields, expand renewable energy, and reduce the flaring of associated gas.

The first Baghdad Conference was held in the Iraqi capital in August 2021, followed by a second in Amman, Jordan, in December 2022.

In early 2023, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani signed a strategic partnership agreement with President Macron — the first of its kind between the two countries. The deal included 50 areas of cooperation, ranging from defence and intelligence-sharing to access to French military equipment.



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