Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi on Monday started his first trip to Europe since taking office in May, landing in Paris in an effort to shore up support to alleviate the pressure of the Hormuz crisis on Iraqi oil exports.
Mr Al Zaidi was welcomed by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace, where the two leaders discussed Iraq resuming and diversifying its energy supply routes. A joint Iraqi-French statement said French oil company TotalEnergies would be investing in Iraq's oil sector to boost production.
“The Iraqi government and TotalEnergies agreed to engage discussions on multiple energy projects in Iraq, involving large-scale investments aimed at boosting Iraq’s oil production and contributing to greater energy efficiency and sovereignty. as well as energy transition, in Iraq,” it said.
In an apparent reference to Iran-backed militias that operate on Iraqi soil, Mr Macron praised “the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Iraqi government to limit weapons to the state”.
Among agreements announced at the meeting was a letter of intent signed by the Iraqi Defence Ministry with French technology company Harmattan AI to boost Iraq's drone capabilities. French company Schneider Electric also struck a deal with Iraqi tech company T964 to develop data centres in Baghdad, each with a capacity of 3 megawatts.
The fight against extremist groups in Iraq, including ISIS, was also on the agenda of discussion between the two leaders. France supports the training of Iraqi security forces.
“Securing our energy supplies by working towards de-escalation and developing alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz means easing the pressure on pump prices,” Mr Macron wrote on X alongside a picture of the two leaders shaking hands. “Deepening our defence and security co-operation with our partners means continuing together the relentless fight against terrorism.”
Following his trip to France, Mr Al Zaidi is expected to travel to Germany, where he will meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Tuesday, with the two leaders scheduled to give a joint press conference.
