ANKARA — Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi’s business background and reputation for economic pragmatism could help sustain the momentum in Turkey-Iraq ties built under his predecessor, though his largely untested political profile introduces an element of uncertainty.

On Monday, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi tapped Ali Al-Zaidi to form a government as a compromise candidate within Iraq’s Shiite-led Coordination Framework, a choice seen as acceptable to both Washington and Ankara. Following President Donald Trump’s phone call with Zaidi on Thursday, Ankara also congratulated the new prime minister-designate on Friday, and the Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed its hope for the swift formation of a new cabinet. 

For Turkey, Zaidi is seen as a more favorable partner than Nouri al-Maliki, the Coordination Framework’s previous nominee, whose 2006 to 2014 premiership Ankara viewed as sectarian. Zaidi’s business-driven and pragmatic approach is more likely to sustain the current positive trajectory in Turkey-Iraq ties, which Ankara considers critical for securing trade corridors, containing cross-border security threats and expanding its regional economic footprint.

Positive trajectory under Sudani