Trump, Iraqi PM discuss ending US troop presence

• Iraq announced plans to restrict firearms exclusively to state security forces.
• The Iraqi prime minister called for a higher OPEC production quota to support postwar recovery.

US President Donald Trump received newly appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi at the White House.

The strategic discussions marked a structural pivot for both nations, charting a transition from a decades-long military alliance to an aggressive economic and corporate partnership.

Following the high-level meeting, both leaders announced that US military boots on the ground would soon be replaced by American corporate infrastructure, particularly within Iraq's massive energy sector.

"We will have a strong partnership with Iraq in the oil field, and we will announce it very soon," Trump declared, adding that American oil companies are poised to enter Iraq at "unprecedented levels."

End of US military footprint

The talks solidified a mutual agreement regarding the timeline of the American military presence. Prime Minister Al-Zaidi confirmed the impending withdrawal of foreign forces, framing it as an opening for commercial development.

"US forces will exit Iraq, and American companies will enter," Al-Zaidi stated bluntly.

Trump echoed this isolationist shift, noting that Iraq's security landscape has evolved to a point where a foreign garrison is counterproductive.

"I do not believe we need to be present militarily in Iraq," Trump affirmed.

The US President also revealed a personal interest in Al-Zaidi’s political ascent, noting that he had actively rooted for his victory because Al-Zaidi's chief political rival held deeply unfavorable and adversarial views toward Washington.

Dissolving militias

A central theme of the summit was the containment of neighboring Iran, which Trump described as a destabilizing force.

Trump did not mince words regarding Tehran's cross-border political leverage, asserting that "Iran is the burden on Iraq because it acts as the bully over the countries of the Middle East."

To counter the external influence and secure total internal sovereignty, Al-Zaidi said a strict state decree to limit the possession of firearms exclusively to official state security agencies.

"After September 30, there is no need for the presence of armed factions in Iraq," Al-Zaidi warned, delivering a clear ultimatum to the country's various paramilitary groups. "After September 30, we will not allow any entity to carry weapons outside the institutions of the state."

Demanding fair share in OPEC

While embracing Western corporate investment, Al-Zaidi maintained a firm stance on Iraq’s sovereign economic rights within international bodies.

He reminded Washington and the global energy market that Iraq is a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), but stated that the country's current output restrictions are unjust given its recent history.

Al-Zaidi argued that Iraq requires an equitable and expanded production quota to fund its national recovery, pointing out that Iraqi forces fought a highly costly and destructive war against terrorism on behalf of the international community, an existential conflict that completely devastated the nation's core infrastructure.

Iraq's Prime Minister Al-Zaidi underscored that a fair oil quota is essential to rebuilding the state and stabilizing the post-war economy.