Growth of Saudi-Iraqi Military Cooperation
Growth of Saudi-Iraqi Military Cooperation
Military cooperation between Iraq and Saudi Arabia has witnessed significant growth recently, marking an important phase in the relations between the two countries.
Given the complex regional conditions, strengthening military relations and understandings between the two countries is of great importance and is part of a broader approach aimed at establishing stable and strong security partnerships in a region suffering from repeated unrest.
According to Middle East News, on November 4, 2024, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi signed a memorandum of understanding for joint military cooperation. This memorandum was signed during Al-Abbasi’s visit to Riyadh, and the two sides discussed ways to strengthen defense relations and mechanisms to enhance them, in addition to the latest regional developments in the Middle East.
Khalid bin Salman wrote in a post on the social media platform X that he consulted with his Iraqi counterpart on ways of bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Iraq and ways to strengthen and develop defense relations between the two countries. The defense ministers of Iraq and Saudi Arabia also reviewed the latest regional developments and efforts made to prevent the escalation of tensions in the region and its consequences, in an effort to maintain security and stability in the Middle East. This agreement was signed at a time when the region is witnessing increased military tensions following the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Lebanon.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia hope to play a role in reducing the intensity of existing tensions in the region by relying on the influence of their relations with the relevant parties in the current events. In this regard, Safaa Al-Asam, a strategic affairs expert, said that Iraq today has connections with all countries of the world, especially the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and has achieved many successes in resuming relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
He added that Iraq seeks to have good relations with neighboring countries, in addition to welcoming countries from the Middle East or the world, aiming to keep the country away from conflicts and not become a field for settling scores between countries.
Al-Asam stated that Iraq hopes to play a broader role in the Middle East with the aim of reaching a safe haven and is striving to keep itself away from any war or conflict, as the government has seriously worked to resolve disputes with countries in the region.
He pointed to the timing of the signing of this memorandum of understanding between Baghdad and Riyadh amid regional tensions and said that the situation in the region is very chaotic, like a ball of fire rolling around the Middle East, burning anyone who touches it or comes near. The strategic affairs expert emphasized that Baghdad is moving towards economic and social openness at all levels and is seriously working to maintain strong relations with all neighboring countries, especially Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.
Al-Asam noted that strengthening Iraq’s military cooperation with Saudi Arabia or with the member states of the Cooperation Council and neighboring countries benefits greater stability in a turbulent region, in light of the Zionist regime’s efforts to expand the scope of war and involve more countries in it.
After about 25 years of severed ties since the closure of the Saudi embassy in Baghdad due to Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the diplomatic relations between the two countries were resumed in 2025.
After that, the two countries signed several agreements and memoranda of understanding, and officials from both countries conducted reciprocal visits aimed at enhancing cooperation in various fields. Recently, Iraqi-Saudi military relations have seen significant growth and progress through strengthened security cooperation and the exchange of high-level military delegations. This cooperation includes signing security agreements and conducting joint exercises to improve the defensive capabilities of both countries.
Practically, the relations between the two countries at all levels, particularly in the military and security domains, expanded after the historic visit of then-Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir to Baghdad in February 2017.
In May of this year, extensive security negotiations were held for the first time in a decade with the aim of enhancing security coordination and securing the shared borders that stretch over 800 kilometers.
In July 2021, Iraq and Saudi Arabia formed a joint coordination council responsible for addressing political, security, and economic issues of mutual importance.
In these meetings, regional developments and shared security challenges, in addition to efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region, have been discussed. Saudi Arabia continues its efforts to support regional stability and, in this regard, hosted the first meeting of the international coalition to implement the two-state solution on October 30, with representatives from over 90 countries in attendance.
In contrast, Iraq is also seeking to achieve calm in the region, and in this regard, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed ways to end the ongoing tension in Lebanon and Gaza during a phone call on October 22.