(Photo : BLONDET ELIOT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and his father King Abdullah II, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani, along with other dignitaries and officials attend the "Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership" in Sweimeh by the Dead Sea shore in central-west Jordan on December 20, 2022
The meeting, joined by Middle Eastern and European leaders, saw the task of sorting out the status of Iraq as crucial for many reasons.
The Status of Iraq Is Concerning
Heads of state from the Mideast and Europe met in Jordan last Tuesday at the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, which is all about the security and stability of Iraq in particular, reported Republic World.
Included in the discussion are top officials from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and leaders from France, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the bloc taking part. Those taking part in the meeting are top-level representatives from several nations in the Gulf, including KSA, Tehran, and even Paris, Baghdad, Ankara, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman with the bloc.
World leaders from the Middle East and Europe met in Jordan Tuesday to discuss increasing security and stabilizing Iraq. The meeting is one of the biggest in recent years between the west and east.
These countries are all there to support Iraq in its efforts to maintain its political stability, sovereignty, and security, as well as to make the necessary economic and other advancements to elevate its position, noted ABC News.
Iraq's reliability and safety have been rattled for years by internal and external conflicts. 2003 U.S.-led incursion helped lead to years of severe conflict and sectarian tensions, such as the formation of the Islamic State extremist group and the empowering of Iran-backed political groups and paramilitaries.
Recently the nation has been affected by the gridlock of politics which is the main dividing line concerning Iran's allies and enemies.
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Middle Eastern, European Leaders Meeting
Lately, Baghdad has strived to play the intermediary role with Iran and Saudi Arabia. However, a series of negotiations between the two in Iraq had already been put on hold, with Tehran criticizing the kingdom for stirring up demonstrations in Tehran.
The meeting on Tuesday was held as a follow-up to the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, which France co-organized in Iraq last year.
Paris will have begun taking an increasingly prominent position in the affairs through recent times, with President Emmanuel Macron as well striving to cooperate to remedy the power struggle in Lebanon.
The French president stated that Paris is concerned with the region's maintenance of peace. He added the all-around chaos that is permeating is too much. It impacts the peace and security in the region.
Macron added that Baghdad is based on the past and has been the worst victim of regional destabilization. All the divisiveness spawned by it should be overcome to start something relevant.
Jordan's King Abdullah II mentioned current concerns during his opening remarks. He said it happens at a time when all kinds of troubles and crises challenge the region. They are food insecurity, water threats, and climate change, citing AL Awsat.
He added that Jordan had had several recent internal disputes like a strike carried out by truck drivers to call out extremely high fuel costs. One incident cited is how a law enforcer was killed in several clashes in protests. Even a shooting incident happened in southern Jordan when three officers and a suspect were killed.
The meeting of Middle Eastern and European leaders concerning the status of Iraq is a crucial issue for those interested.
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