Saudi Arabia, Iraq to cooperate in security, intel matters: FM
Saudi Arabia and Iraq have agreed to cooperate in security and intelligence matters, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television cited Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim as saying, as Riyadh woos Baghdad to stem the influence of regional rival Iran.
Hakim met on Thursday with Saudi State Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir in Saudi Arabia.
Iraq has previously been closer to Iran. The announcement came during a state visit by an Iraqi delegation to Saudi Arabia led by Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi.
Abdul Mahdi met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his office said on Thursday, a day after his first official visit to the kingdom.
The meeting with the crown prince came after he met King Salman on Wednesday. His office said the leaders signed 13 agreements in areas such as trade, energy and political cooperation, without giving further details.