ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s upcoming visit to Washington is aimed at building a “productive economic partnership” and expanding relations with the US, the Iraqi government spokesperson said on Monday. 

Since taking office in May, Zaidi has enjoyed staunch US support. US President Donald Trump personally congratulated him in a phone call, expressing his anticipation for a “highly productive” new bilateral relationship and extending an invitation to visit Washington.

“The prime minister’s upcoming visit to Washington in mid-July will be his first official foreign trip, aimed at building a productive economic partnership that serves development in Iraq and deepens strategic relations with the United States,” Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi told the state-run al-Sabah newspaper. 

Zaidi’s program in Washington will center on expanding trade and investment ties with the US, according to Aboudi, who added that strengthening ties between the Iraqi and US private sectors will also be high on the agenda. 

A banker and businessman, Zaidi was appointed as prime minister following at least seven meetings held by the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework aimed at naming a candidate for the top post. 

Largely seen as a compromise candidate, Zaidi was picked after a “lack of consensus on choosing a candidate from the proposed names,” according to his predecessor Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.

Last week, Zaidi met with US envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack, with the pair stressing the need to ensure “the complete disarmament and disbandment” of non-state armed groups, reiterating both Washington and Baghdad’s commitment toward that end.

The confinement of weapons within the authority of the Iraqi state has emerged as one of the central objectives of Zaidi’s government program.

Several pro-Iran Iraqi factions have already announced their willingness to hand over weapons and integrate into the state security apparatus, with some also declaring willingness to sever their ties with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

Barrack also conveyed that Trump “looks forward to welcoming” Zaidi to the White House mid-July “to discuss the future of this important relationship.”