Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani visits Netherlands to boost bilateral relations and address water management

THE HAGUE — Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani embarked on a visit to the Netherlands aimed at enhancing bilateral ties between Baghdad and Amsterdam across various sectors, including water management, agriculture, and security cooperation.

Upon the invitation of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Prime Minister al-Sudani, accompanied by a high-level delegation, arrived in The Hague on Thursday for discussions on bolstering cooperation between the two nations.

The meeting between al-Sudani and Rutte covered a range of common issues, regional and international affairs, culminating in the decision to establish a bilateral cooperation council tasked with overseeing relations between Iraq and the Netherlands.

According to a statement from the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister, the newly formed council will supervise specialized committees focusing on key sectors such as agriculture, water management, and irrigation techniques.

Of paramount importance is Iraq’s water needs, especially amid concerns over diminishing river water levels due to upstream actions by Turkey. The council aims to leverage Dutch expertise in water management to address Iraq’s water scarcity challenges.

Additionally, discussions touched upon cooperation in areas including the economy, immigration, and security, with plans for the Netherlands to assume the NATO mission in Iraq come May.

Following the official talks, al-Sudani engaged with representatives from Dutch companies, reaffirming Iraq’s commitment to collaborating with renowned Dutch firms, particularly in energy sectors such as renewable energy and associated gas projects.

From the Netherlands, Prime Minister al-Sudani proceeded to Germany to participate in the Munich Security Conference, further underscoring Iraq’s engagement on the international stage.