RIYADH, April 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iraq will never become a launchpad for
attacks on Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi pledged during a long-awaited visit to the kingdom aimed at forging closer economic and security ties.
In January, explosive-laden drones crashed into the main royal palace in
Riyadh, with American media citing US officials as saying they were launched from neighbouring Iraq.
Saudi officials did not publicly disclose any details on the reported
attack on the sprawling Al-Yamama complex, the official residence and office of King Salman as well as the main base of the royal court.
But the news raised alarm in a country that has frequently come under
missile and drone attacks from Houthi rebels in Yemen, where
Riyadh-backed forces are engaged in a six-year conflict.
A relatively unknown militant group in Iraq calling itself the Righteous
Promise Brigade claimed responsibility for the strike.
Kadhemi said the group’s claim was “not true” and insisted that the attack
was not launched from Iraq.
“We will not allow any attack on the kingdom,” he told reporters after
what his aides described as an hours-long meeting with Saudi Arabia’s de
facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“There haven’t been any attacks” from Iraq.
“There have been attempts by some to… disrupt relations” between Iraq
and Saudi Arabia, he added, without elaborating.
Known to maintain close personal ties with Prince Mohammed, Kadhemi walks a diplomatic tightrope as Baghdad often finds itself caught in the tug of war between Tehran and its rivals Riyadh and Washington.
Kadhemi’s trip comes after the countries reopened their Arar land border
crossing in November for the first time since Riyadh cut off diplomatic ties
with Baghdad in 1990, following Iraqi ex-dictator Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait.
Aside from a discussion on border security, the Iraqi premier 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 $3 billion, 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 from just over 2 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.
Kadhemi, whose government has sought to fast-track foreign investment
including Saudi support for energy and agriculture, is pushing for deeper
cooperation with Riyadh.
Kadhemi was scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip
as prime minister last July, but the visit was cancelled at the last minute
when King Salman was hospitalised for surgery to remove his gall bladder.
His trip to Tehran, Riyadh’s arch-rival, went ahead, with the premier
meeting Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. — NNN-AGENCIES
