Iraq and Saudi Arabia Discuss Energy Security and Oil Market Stability
Baghdad and Riyadh reviewed energy security, oil exports and wider regional developments during a high-level meeting in the Saudi capital.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A high-level Iraqi-Saudi meeting in Riyadh on Friday focused on energy security, the stability of global oil markets and efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
According to an official Saudi statement, Saudi Energy and Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman and Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan received Iraqi Finance Minister Falih Sari and Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair.
The meeting addressed several issues of mutual interest and explored opportunities to expand cooperation across different sectors in ways that serve the shared interests of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The two sides also discussed the latest regional developments, emphasizing the importance of efforts to safeguard energy security and stabilize fuel supply chains at the international level.
The meeting comes after a high-level Iraqi security delegation visited Riyadh on Aug. 13, where it held several meetings with senior Saudi officials and stressed the importance of strengthening security coordination.
During that visit, Iraq's security delegation discussed with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman the development of military and defense cooperation between the two countries, according to a statement by the spokesperson for Iraq's Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The talks also covered international border security, security coordination and intelligence cooperation, with both sides stressing the importance of continuing cooperation in ways that serve their shared interests and contribute to regional stability.
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman reaffirmed that his country would always stand with Iraq in supporting its security, stability, development and growth.
The Iraqi delegation also reiterated Baghdad's longstanding position against undermining the security of neighboring countries and against allowing Iraqi territory to be used against any other state.
The delegation stressed that Iraq rejects any violation of its sovereignty while, at the same time, respecting the sovereignty of its neighbors.
The latest meeting in Riyadh therefore brought energy security and oil-market stability into the broader framework of cooperation between Baghdad and Riyadh, alongside their discussions on security and regional stability.