President Donald Trump is hosting Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, at the White House. Al-Zaidi, a businessman with no prior political experience, was backed by Trump in his bid for office. The meeting is expected to focus on the issue of Iran and the disarmament of Iran-backed militias operating in Iraq.

Background

Al-Zaidi’s appointment as prime minister-designate in April was seen as a significant development in Iraq’s political landscape. Trump had previously expressed his opposition to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who was viewed as too close to Tehran. The Trump administration has been pushing for Iraq to disarm Iranian-backed militias, which have launched attacks on U.S. bases and diplomatic facilities.

Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Chatham House think tank, expects the U.S. to put significant pressure on al-Zaidi to move ahead with disarmament during his Washington visit. Al-Zaidi’s government has made a public show of cracking down on corruption, conducting raids and arresting dozens of current and former lawmakers and government officials accused of corruption.

Economic Partnerships

Al-Zaidi’s delegation to Washington includes a number of Iraqi businessmen and government officials. The aim of the visit is to strengthen economic and development partnerships, attract investment, and expand the role of U.S. companies in implementing infrastructure projects in Iraq.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.