ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - As world leaders and diplomats flooded the halls of the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani held 14 meetings on the sidelines of conference, none of them with presidents, premiers, or foreign ministers, a rather unusual occurrence for the Iraqi leader.

Sudan’s trip to Munich was unlike any other of his trips to international conferences. Apart from UK’s National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell, Sudani met no other western state officials.

While participating in the conference last year, Sudani met several officials, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a number of US congress members, the King of Jordan, the prime minister of Estonia, and the foreign minister of Italy among others.

However this year, despite the conference being attended by Scholz and his foreign minister, US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, British Secretary of State David Lammy, and new Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Sudani was nowhere to be seen alongside those leaders.

While a source from the Iraqi government told The New Region that the reason Sudani did not meet with said officials was merely due to a tight schedule, it has not prevented many from wondering if there is more behind the matter, especially since meeting with at least US, Turkish, and Syrian officials in light of recent developments in the Middle East was highly anticipated from the Iraqi premier.

A meeting with US officials was highly anticipated given that Donald Trump recently revoked Iraq’s exemption to import energy from neighboring Iran.

“There was no political or other impediment preventing Sudani from meeting with any American, Turkish, or Syrian official during his participation in the Munich Security Conference a few days ago,” a source from the Iraqi government told The New Region on the condition of anonymity. “There was a prearranged agenda, and due to the tight schedule of meetings for both Sudani and other officials, no bilateral meetings took place for logistical reasons.”

But that was not the messaged that was conveyed from Sudan’s meetings, at least according to experts.

Speaking to The New Region, strategic affairs expert Ahmed al-Sharifi said that the Sudani not meeting world leaders during the conference conveyed a “negative message both domestically and internationally.”

“The Prime Minister should have held meetings with important officials attending the 61st Munich Security Conference, including Americans, Turks, Syrians, and others, rather than limiting his meetings,” Sharifi said.

Sharifi added that such lack of meetings “raised doubts about the future of Iraq’s relations with these countries, especially since these officials held meetings with other leaders, including Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.”

However despite the conclusion drawn by analysts from Sudani’s trip and meetings, the Iraqi government is insistent that Iraq shares strong ties with regional and international actors.

“Iraq’s relations are currently at their best with all regional and international actors, maintaining a balanced approach without leaning towards any side,” the Iraqi government source said.