Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman is expected to make a two-day visit to Iraq, an Iraqi lawmaker said.
“Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman will be on an official visit to Iraq,” MP Saadoon Al Dulaimi posted on his Twitter account late on Monday.
“On the first day, he will sign agreements with the prime minister in Baghdad, and on the second day he will be in Najaf. It will be a historic visit that augurs well for the region and for all Muslims. It will be a new phase of peace and co-existence among Muslims away from sectarian conflicts.”
In Kuwait, Al Jarida, a local daily, on Tuesday reported that Prince Mohammad would be making a historic visit to Iraq.
Although no details are available about the visit yet to be officially announced by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, sources told the daily that both the capital Baghdad and Najaf in the south of the country were getting ready for the visit.
Security is being beefed up in both cities and elite forces are involved in high-level and sophisticated preparations to ensure the success of the visit that will consolidate the recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Authorities in Baghdad have recently approved the opening of two more Saudi consulates in Najaf and Basra in a move that will reinforce the kingdom’s diplomatic presence in the country. Saudi Arabia has its embassy in Baghdad and a consulate in Arbil.
Riyadh and Baghdad have in recent months boosted the level of contacts between them and the visit by Prince Mohammad will end three decades of rupture in diplomatic relations.
Last month, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haidar Al Abadi said relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia were on the right track.
“We look forward to widening our relations in all areas in a way that serves the interests of our brotherly peoples. We also look forward to deepening cooperation through the Joint Coordination Council, which is the basis for boosting economic relations and commercial and expertise exchanges,” Al Abadi told a Saudi media delegation visiting Baghdad.
The council was set up in July to boost ties on all levels.
Prince Mohammad last week made his first official trip as crown prince, visiting Egypt and Britain. Both visits were described as being highly successful.
He will be in the US next week and will meet President Donald Trump on March 20.
