Iraq’s President Fuad Masum visited Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah in Riyadh last night, the latest evidence of a thaw in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“The Iraqi president expressed his happiness to visit the kingdom and meet with his brother the king,” according to the SPA.
The meeting was the highest level meeting of officials between the two countries in years.
Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin and Iraq’s President. Photo via SPA.
On September 13th, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal held wide-ranging talks with his Iraqi counterpart, Ibrahim Al-Jaafari in Jeddah. Following that meeting, Saudi Arabia announced plans to reopen its embassy in Iraq once the situation improves in the country, though no time-frame was given.
In addition to a key diplomatic relationship, Iraq has the second largest proven oil reserves in the world.
After the U.S.-led coalition to invade Iraq in 2003, a power vacuum was created in the absence of Iraq’s ousted leader, Sadaam Hussein, a Sunni. The void was an opportunity for Saudi’ Arabia’s regional rival Iran. Nouri al-Maliki was widely seen as close with Tehran, and unable or unwilling to build an inclusive government.
