Iraq, Qatar grow closer in wake of Gulf crisis
Following the tension between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the relationship between Iraq and Qatar has become strong and many Iraqi politicians support Qatar against Saudi Arabia.
Although the official Iraqi position indicates that Iraq has been neutral vis-a-vis the escalating crisis between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the recent rapprochement between Iraq and Qatar as well as the sympathetic attitudes of Iraqi politicians with Qatar tell a different story.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said June 6, commenting on the Gulf crisis, “Iraq is not taking any side. We are maintaining good relations with all countries.”
Meanwhile, Iraqi parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri made an official visit to Doha on June 4 to discuss ways for bilateral cooperation between Iraq and Qatar and investment opportunities for cooperation at various levels.
The emir of Qatar, in his meeting with Jabouri, stressed the importance of Iraq in the region and the need to consolidate bilateral relations between the two countries, and establish special relations between Qatar and Iraq.
