French President Macron 'to visit Iraq in June' amid growing cooperation

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to visit Iraq in June, leading a large ministerial delegation as Paris seeks to deepen defence and economic cooperation with Baghdad, The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported.

A senior official from Iraq’s Foreign Ministry told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Macron will also attend the upcoming Baghdad Conference, a regional summit bringing together leaders from Iraq’s neighbouring states. The event, previously held in 2021 and 2022, was postponed last year due to Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

Preparations are under way to hold the delayed summit "soon", the official said, adding that France is now open to Syria’s participation, having previously objected to its involvement.

Macron’s visit is expected to result in a series of bilateral agreements, particularly in the fields of energy and military cooperation.

Amer al-Fayez, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s foreign relations committee, said joint Iraqi-French committees have already begun coordinating key areas of discussion ahead of the visit. He described the trip as "highly significant for Iraq across several domains", noting that Baghdad is finalising security and logistical arrangements.

Al-Fayez said the talks will focus on potential new arms deals, enhanced security and intelligence cooperation, as well as investment opportunities for French firms across various sectors.

"France is a strategic partner, and Iraq is working to ensure the visit strengthens its regional and international standing," he said.

Former Iraqi ambassador to France Ghazi Faisal said Macron’s visit highlights France’s growing interest in Iraq as a regional actor and a gateway to broader European engagement.

"France sees Iraq’s location — particularly with the development of the Faw port — as critical to European, American, Chinese and Russian interests," Faisal said. "This visit is not ceremonial — it is about revitalising the Baghdad Conference as a platform for regional cooperation."

He added that the first two summits had laid the groundwork for collaboration on energy, defence, environmental issues, and the reconstruction of industrial and agricultural sectors.

Political analyst Najm al-Qassab said the visit marks a shift from symbolic diplomacy to a strategic partnership, as France seeks a more active role in regional security and infrastructure development.

Franco-Iraqi relations, which flourished in the 1970s and 1980s — particularly in defence and energy — cooled after 2003 but have regained momentum in recent years. In 2023, French energy giant TotalEnergies signed a $27 billion deal with Iraq to develop gas fields, expand renewable energy, and reduce the flaring of associated gas.

Al-Qassab said the upcoming summit offers Iraq a chance to reassert its diplomatic position and underscore its foreign policy independence.

"If earlier conferences were symbolic, the challenge now is to turn that momentum into concrete agreements that benefit both countries," he said. "France wants a stronger role in Middle East energy security, and Iraq is a key partner."

The first Baghdad Conference was held in the Iraqi capital in August 2021, followed by a second in Amman, Jordan, in December 2022.

In early 2023, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani signed a strategic partnership agreement with President Macron — the first of its kind between the two countries. The deal included 50 areas of cooperation, ranging from defence and intelligence-sharing to access to French military equipment.