U.S. Vice President Makes Unannounced Visit to Iraq

Joe Biden, the Vice President of the United States, made an unexpected trip to Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday, April 9, and engaged in discussions with officials from the country. According to the German news agency, Biden met with Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, shortly after arriving in Baghdad. The focus of the talks between the leaders of the two countries was 'reviewing security and political progress in Iraq.' Biden's visit to Iraq is seen as a gesture of support for the Iraqi government, which is currently facing tensions due to a political crisis while fighting the Islamic State group. The Islamic State has seized large areas of Syria and Iraq over the past two years and declared an 'Islamic caliphate' there. Iraqi forces have recaptured some areas, including the city of Ramadi in Anbar province, from the Islamic State militants. According to Reuters, Biden's office stated that the Vice President would meet with Iraqi leaders to encourage them towards national unity and an end to political disputes, as Iraq has been in a political crisis for several weeks. This political crisis stems from disagreements among parliamentary factions over reforms that Prime Minister al-Abadi is seeking to implement. The main disputes revolve around the independent technocrat cabinet that Mr. Abadi is trying to form. While protesters in the streets, especially followers of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, insist on the formation of such a government, major factions affiliated with political parties oppose this move, fearing that the establishment of a technocrat government will reduce their influence in power. An official from the U.S. government who traveled with Mr. Biden to Iraq told reporters that 'he has been looking to visit Iraq for some time, and we were looking for an opportunity to make it happen.' Biden's visit to Iraq indicates that the White House is pleased with the advances of Iraqi forces against the Islamic State militants. The U.S. official stated that Mr. Biden has personal relationships with several Iraqi leaders and speaks with them on average every ten days. He added that this trip was made to counter the 'misconception in the region' that 'Iran has influence in Iraq.' This is the first time Biden has visited Iraq since the withdrawal of U.S. forces, making him the third high-ranking American official to visit Iraq in April, following Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. In related news, the U.S. is sending an additional 200 troops and Apache helicopters to Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr has called for the resumption of protests in Baghdad, and there are discussions about the role of Iran and Saudi Arabia in the political crisis in Iraq.