French foreign minister visits Iraq amid regional tour

ANKARA

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday on the first leg of a regional tour that also includes Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said he will discuss with Barrot ways of bolstering bilateral cooperation in the economy, security, and defense.

The discussions will also take up regional developments to avoid conflicts, and the role of a US-led coalition to confront the threat of the ISIS (Daesh) terror group, he added on X.

The French Foreign Ministry said earlier that Barrot’s visit to Baghdad aims to affirm France’s commitment to Iraq’s stability and its role in maintaining regional balance.

The tour also comes amid French efforts to host an international conference in June on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that he plans to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming months.

• French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot
• Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein