US envoy visits Basra to push ‘deepening’ economic ties

BASRA — U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Joshua Harris arrived in Basra on Tuesday on an official visit aimed at strengthening economic ties with Iraq, welcomed by Gov. Asaad al-Eidani and Aqeel al-Furaiji, who heads the Basra Provincial Council’s security committee.

In a post on Facebook, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said it looked forward to “deepening the U.S.-Iraq economic partnership in this region and advancing our shared commitment to delivering results for the American and Iraqi people.” It gave no further detail.

Basra is the heart of Iraq’s oil industry and its main outlet to the Gulf, making it central to the economic relationship the embassy referenced. The visit comes as Washington and Baghdad prepare for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s expected trip to the United States next month.