U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani agreed to quickly reopen the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline, which had been halted since March 2023, costing Iraq over $23 billion in economic damage. They emphasized energy independence for Iraq and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation, stability, and countering terrorism.
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani engaged in a conversation to expedite the reopening of the Iraq-Türkiye pipeline. During this discussion, they underscored the importance of Iraq achieving energy independence and the necessity to adhere to contractual agreements concerning U.S. enterprises operating in Iraq to foster additional investments.
The interruption of oil shipments from Iraq to the Ceyhan Port, which occurred on March 25, 2023, followed a ruling by the International Court of Arbitration based in Paris. This halt in exports is estimated to have inflicted over $23 billion in economic losses on Iraq.
Furthermore, Rubio and Al-Sudani exchanged views on the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq, highlighting the significance of Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, while also addressing the need to mitigate Iranian influence and combat ISIL (Daesh). Rubio emphasized the importance of preventing Syria from becoming a sanctuary for terrorism or a risk to neighboring countries.
In conclusion, both leaders reached a consensus to bolster communication and cooperation between their nations, reviewing advancements in mutual endeavors across diverse sectors.
In summary, Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s call reflects a concerted effort to restore Iraq’s oil trade with Türkiye. Their discussions represent a significant step towards Iraq’s energy independence, while also focusing on regional stability and the ongoing fight against terrorism. The projected reopening of the pipeline could substantially mitigate economic losses faced by Iraq.
Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com
