Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on October 14, in the wake of recent attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure, including a strike on King Khalid International Airport. The attacks, attributed to Houthi forces, have targeted five airports across Saudi Arabia, resulting in casualties among both Saudi nationals and foreign citizens.
During the meeting, Al-Zaidi condemned the attacks, describing them as threats to regional security and stability. He reaffirmed Iraq’s position that its territory would not be used as a base for actions undermining the security of Saudi Arabia or other neighboring countries. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responded by emphasizing Saudi Arabia's commitment to deepening cooperation with Iraq, particularly in security matters.
Sources close to the discussions described the talks as positive, indicating potential for expanded collaboration in both security and economic fields. The meeting highlighted a shared interest between Riyadh and Baghdad in strengthening bilateral ties, though analysts caution that the progress depends on subsequent institutional arrangements and concrete measures following the visit.
Al-Zaidi confronts internal challenges, notably from political factions resistant to his efforts to combat corruption and centralize control over weapons within the state. These initiatives aim to reduce sectarian and partisan divisions that have long complicated Iraq’s governance and political stability.
Coinciding with his visit, Al-Zaidi authored an article titled “Iraq and Saudi Arabia: Toward a Stable Regional Order,” published in Asharq Al-Awsat. In the piece, he argued that the security of Iraq and the stability of Saudi Arabia are interlinked. He called for keeping Iraq out of regional conflicts and emphasized its potential role as a bridge for dialogue rather than a battleground or launchpad for hostile acts.
Al-Zaidi outlined a vision in which Iraq and Saudi Arabia embark on a new phase of partnership and joint strategic planning, linking this to broader regional stability and economic integration. He described stable Baghdad-Riyadh relations as foundational to wider Gulf and regional cohesion.
Saudi Arabia’s position aligns closely with this perspective. Riyadh seeks a stable Iraq governed by principles of good neighborliness and cooperation, with assurances that Iraqi soil will not be exploited by hostile armed groups to threaten Saudi security or economic interests, including oil supplies.
Acknowledging the significant hurdles facing Al-Zaidi’s administration, Saudi Arabia positions itself as a partner in Iraq’s ongoing reconstruction and institutional strengthening. This cooperation is seen as mutually beneficial for both countries’ security and economic well-being.
Saudi foreign policy continues to balance a willingness to use force to protect national security with an emphasis on diplomacy to address underlying threats, a framework guiding its engagement with Iraq in this critical period.