PM Al-Zaidi and French President Macron discuss economic ties and regional stability

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com)— Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi held a high-level telephone discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, August 8, 2026, focusing on expanding economic partnerships, regional security, and the conclusion of the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Media Office, the leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across economic and investment sectors, highlighting expanding opportunities for French corporations within Iraq’s infrastructure and energy markets. Prime Minister al-Zaidi extended an official invitation to President Macron to visit Baghdad to solidify a long-term economic partnership between the two nations. Key Takeaways from the High-Level Talks September 30 Coalition Exit Benchmark: Prime Minister al-Zaidi reiterated that September 30, 2026, serves as the definitive deadline for the withdrawal of international coalition military forces from Iraq, noting that concluding the mission allows Baghdad to focus completely on economic development. Sovereignty & Regional Stability: Al-Zaidi stressed Iraq’s commitment to balanced regional diplomacy, asserting that Iraqi territory will not be utilized to threaten neighboring states, while calling for dialogue to resolve ongoing Middle East conflicts. French Corporate Investment: The discussions highlighted expanding trade and investment channels for French enterprises across national energy, logistics, and infrastructure sectors. French Support for Governance Reforms: President Macron reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Iraq’s anti-corruption initiatives, fiscal reforms, counter-terrorism cooperation, and security force capacity building. Prime Minister al-Zaidi emphasized during the call that his administration is focused on transforming Iraq into an influential economic hub linking global trade routes, backed by the country’s strategic location and natural resources. President Macron praised the Iraqi government’s structural economic reforms and confirmed Paris’s continued support for Iraq’s institutional stability and military modernization as the transition toward a purely bilateral security relationship nears completion.