Government advisor: Iraq's relationship with the US is characterized by positivity and ongoing cooperation

Baghdad-INA
Iraqis are exempt from the tightening of entry rules to the United States, according to a new list being considered by the US State Department, ban which now targets 43 countries, a fact that reflects the growing relations between Baghdad and Washington and confirms the true partnership between the two parties, which no longer depends on cooperation in the military, political or diplomatic fields, but has expanded to a level that includes direct benefits for Iraqi citizens as well.
 
Affirming the Strength of Relations
 
Prime Minister's foreign affairs Advisor, Farhad Alaa Al-Din, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The nature of Iraq's relationship with the United States is characterized by positivity and ongoing cooperation, reflecting the level of mutual trust and common understanding in various fields, including regional security and stability."
 
He added, "Iraq's exemption from the US visa restrictions underscores the strength of bilateral relations and the importance of joint cooperation in the security, economic, diplomatic, and immigration fields, especially since the Iraqi government has demonstrated on more than one occasion that Iraq is continuing its approach to enhancing security and stability, cooperating with the international community to combat terrorism, and maintaining a safe and stable environment that contributes to strengthening regional and international partnerships. In addition, the government affirms its commitment to continuing to work with the United States and other countries to ensure common interests and achieve sustainable development for the benefit of the Iraqi people and the region."
Growing and escalating relations
 
Political analyst Hamza Mustafa told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "excluding Iraq from the restrictions on entry into the US is an indication that Iraqi-American relations are growing and continuing to strengthen. This has also been confirmed by US officials over the past period, whether in US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's conversation with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, or through Michael Waltz National Security Advisor of the United States discussions with the Prime Minister, which were very positive."
 
He added, "In addition, the recent targeting of one of the most prominent ISIS terrorist leaders two days ago was an American-Iraqi operation, and this is also an indication of American-Iraqi intelligence cooperation."
 
New Foundations for Relations
 
In the same context, political expert Saadoun Al-Saadi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The new exception confirms that the United States has established new foundations for the relationship with Baghdad, based on partnership and strengthening bilateral agreements with real decisions that translate into a new reality that serves the interests of both countries at various levels."
 
He added, "US President Donald Trump pledged during his election campaign that he would limit illegal immigration to the United States, as he believes this immigration has affected his country from a security perspective, and even from an economic perspective. Therefore, he wanted to implement what he pledged during the election, which is why this new list came about."
 
He added, "The measures adopted by the United States naturally differ from one country to another for several reasons, the first of which is the depth of the relationship between the United States and other countries and the type of immigrants. Due to its geographical location, immigrants from Latin America flock to the United States. However, there is a more harmful and more intense migration from African countries towards the United States and Europe, most of which is made up of migrant workers who, according to American data, do not benefit the American economy as much as they seek a safe haven."
 
Earlier, the New York Times reported that the US State Department had proposed a new list of 43 countries imposing strict measures, some of which amount to a complete ban.
 
The list divides these countries into three categories. The first prohibits citizens of Yemen, Libya, Syria, Somalia, and Sudan, as well as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba, from crossing US borders.
 
The second category imposes significant restrictions on their citizens' travel to the United States. It includes 10 countries: Russia, Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Turkmenistan, Eritrea, and South Sudan.

The third category includes countries whose citizens are subject to a partial or complete ban on entry to the United States. These are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu, Gambia, Dominican Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Liberia, Mauritania, Malawi, Mali, Sao Tome and Principe, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea. The newspaper explained that the three lists were drawn up by the State Department several weeks ago and are subject to changes.