France and Iraq agree to strengthen energy and defense cooperation
France and Iraq agreed in Paris to deepen cooperation in energy and defense during Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to the Élysée Palace. French President Emmanuel Macron and the head of the Iraqi government also called for diversifying oil and gas export routes in the Middle East.
In a joint statement, the sides stressed the importance of regional energy interconnections and the diversification of export routes to ensure the region’s energy security. As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, the trip to France was al-Zaidi’s first visit to Europe since taking office in May.
Energy agreements
French company TotalEnergies signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraq on the supply of liquefied natural gas. The sides also agreed to discuss further energy projects.
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TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné said the company was ready to cooperate with Iraq in the oil and energy sectors. According to him, the company plans to increase its investment in Iraq from $12 billion to $16 billion.
Defense cooperation
Paris and Baghdad also agreed to strengthen their defense partnership. They signed a strategic roadmap for Iraq’s acquisition of French military equipment. Iraq seeks to modernize its armed forces and strengthen its capabilities to protect sovereignty.
Separately, French drone manufacturer Harmattan AI signed a letter of intent with Iraq’s Ministry of Defense on autonomous air defense systems. The sides also concluded several agreements in the fields of development assistance, education, civil aviation, and electric power infrastructure.
