Al-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 1
“It is no secret that relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq have hit rock bottom in recent years. Riyadh has been engaged in a war of self-defense against Houthi militias in Yemen, an ethnic group that many Iraqis widely sympathize with. Many Iraqis, meanwhile, falsely accuse Saudi Arabia of supporting Islamic State and its activities in Iraq.
“Several events that took place recently might reveal, however, a positive change in relations between the two countries. Just a few months ago, in May, Iraqi President Fuad Masum visited Riyadh, where he attended, together with other Arab leaders, the Islamic-American summit. A few weeks later, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived on an official state visit to Saudi Arabia and met with the King. Both visits were very successful. Indeed, communication between the two countries continued to grow, culminating in the rare visit last week of Muqtada al-Sadr, a notable Iraqi Shiite cleric, who arrived in Saudi Arabia to meet with the King and called to improve relations between the two countries.
“Anyone following this chain of events can easily understand that both countries are investing great efforts into restoring ties between them. The sectarian tensions that plague our region have undoubtedly placed Baghdad and Riyadh on a collision course. Yet both countries’ leaders seem determined to change this trajectory, and overcome the animosity that once existed among them. If proven correct, this rapprochement between Baghdad and Riyadh might spell out a new strategic alliance in the Middle East; one which is able to overcome sectarian tensions in the region. At a day and age where more and more violence takes over the Middle East in the name of religion, this is a blessed move. Allowing two historical foes to come together in a close alliance can set an unprecedented example to other states around us.
“There is surely still much work to be done before relations between the two countries will be fully normalized. However, these developments may very well signal a new era for Saudi-Iraqi relations, and the Middle East more broadly.” – Hassan Mustafa