The “Baghdad II” assembly in Jordan, which brings together regional powers as well as officials from France and the European Union, follows an August 2021 summit in the Iraqi capital organized at Macron’s initiative.
“There is a path that is not. . . a form of hegemony, of imperialism, a style that would be dictated from outside,” Macron said at the summit in Sweimeh, a hotel on the Dead Sea.
For years, Iraq has been caught in a delicate balancing act between its two main allies, the United States and Iran, and Baghdad has recently reached a fragile government of compromise after a year of political stalemate.
It has endured nearly two decades of turmoil since the U. S. -led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.
The jihadist organization Islamic State seized about a third of Iraq and declared a “caliphate” in 2014, before its defeat more than 3 years later.
“Iraq is the theater of influences, incursions, destabilizations that are connected to the entire region,” Macron said.
The summit in neighboring Jordan was aimed at offering “support for the stability, security and prosperity of Iraq,” the French presidency said, adding that it hoped to gain advantages “for the whole region. “
“No one expects miracles”
Several countries in the region are in turmoil. Syria remains a battleground for competing geopolitical interests, and Lebanon is caught in a political quagmire.
For more than 3 months, Iran has been bloodily suppressing a wave of popular demonstrations triggered by the death on September 16 in detention of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin.
The assembly was also attended by senior EU diplomat Josep Borrell, who mediated talks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Borrell met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, talks that the EU diplomat deemed “necessary. . . amid deteriorating relations between Iran and the EU. “
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said she spoke with Abdollahian and demanded the release of seven French “hostages” in Iran and respect for civil and political rights.
Colonna also called for the “quick election” of a president in Lebanon and the formation of a new government to “carry out reforms. “
The Lebanese cupboard acts on an interim basis and the country has been head of state for more than a month.
The summit also brings together the new Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, as well as delegations from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
“This summit has ambitions, but no one expects miracles,” said Riad Kahwaji, director of the Near East and Gulf Military Analysis Institute.
Iraq Test
France’s role as mediator is crucial, Kahwaji said, with Paris “keeping the thread of the discussion on behalf of the West with Iran, as the Vienna nuclear negotiations are stalled lately. “
Iran’s involvement in Ukraine’s standoff with the drone source to Russia further complicates the talks, Kahwaji said.
Tehran accused regional rival Saudi Arabia, with which it has had diplomatic relations since 2016, of fomenting unrest in Iran as protests erupt.
Ahead of the summit, Iran’s Emir-Abdollahian said Tehran is “ready to resume overall relations” with Riyadh “as soon as the Saudi aspect is ready. “
The convention is also a check for the Sudanese Iraqi, who was appointed minister in late October after more than a year of political stalemate.
Considered closer to Iran than his predecessor Mustafa al-Kadhemi, this is Sudani’s first primary meeting.
Hamzeh Hadad, a visiting member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the first summit of 2021 was intended to allow Kadhemi to show that he could simply “bring together neighboring leaders, especially the Gulf states, in Baghdad. “
During this meeting, Sudani will have to show “that he can nurture those relationships and show that they do have non-public ties,” Hadad said.
The assembly also hopes to address issues such as global warming, food security, water resources and energy cooperation.