Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi said that strengthening state authority and placing weapons under the control of official institutions are fundamental to building a unified and stable Iraq.
Al-Zaydi stressed that Iraq’s growing regional and international role must begin at home through a strong state capable of enforcing the law. He also described relations with France as a strategic partnership rooted in longstanding ties and spanning the economy, energy, industry and culture.
He said his meetings in Paris seek to open a new phase in bilateral relations based on mutual interests, with Iraq acting as an active partner rather than seeking political support or special demands.
The prime minister also highlighted the impact of regional tensions, particularly the Strait of Hormuz crisis, on Iraq’s oil exports, trade flows and state revenues. He stressed that Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to threaten neighboring countries or as a platform for settling regional or international disputes.
Al-Zaydi further identified the strengthening of security and military institutions, along with cybersecurity, as key priorities, particularly ahead of the end of the international coalition’s mission on September 30.
He said Iraq’s geographic position gives it the potential to become a major trade and energy corridor linking the Gulf with Asia, Türkiye and Europe. The Development Road project, extending more than 1,900 kilometers through roads and railways, is expected to play a central role in this connectivity.
The government, he added, aims to move from political and economic agreements toward practical implementation, with success measured by investment, job creation, technology transfer and the development of Iraqi capabilities.
