My government has steered the country through a complicated period that has presented immense challenges to the region. The Gaza war has given rise to multifaceted challenges for Arab states, both political and diplomatic. Broad popular solidarity has reshaped security equations, and ambitious developmental policies have replaced our frailty with resilience.

 

The Arab Summit in Baghdad is a watershed moment; Iraq’s national aspirations intersect with the broader Arab pursuit of overcoming divisions and embarking on a path toward a framework for effective and comprehensive Arab cooperation. Today, we need responsible Arab discourse that is grounded in political realism and the conviction that solidarity does not imply uniformity, but rather mutual respect, tolerance of difference, and the pursuit of shared objectives and a common destiny.

 

Iraq believes that reinforcing joint Arab efforts begins with reinforcing relations among Arab capitals from the Gulf to the Atlantic, on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in others’ domestic affairs, frank and constructive dialogue, and common positions on international issues. With its strategic geographic location, its vast resources, its ambitious youth, and its heritage, the Arab world has tremendous potential. Indeed, there is no reason that it cannot become an independent and balanced power on the international stage.

 

The challenges we face (from repeated Israeli aggression against Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria, to the communal divisions of some Arab states and regional and international interventions) undermine not only the security of their populations but also our capacity to take collective actions as a nation. Thus, we believe that it is now time to launch a unified Arab initiative that goes beyond humanitarian questions to address how to build constitutional nation-states that safeguard our peoples’ dignity and diversity.

 

At a moment when we are seeing no meaningful international engagement on behalf of the region’s peoples, the need to present a comprehensive Arab developmental strategy is particularly pressing. For this reason, Iraq advocates the adoption of an integrated economic approach that addresses regional developmental disparities and reinforces our collective capacity to address nutritional, energy, and supply chain crises. In this context, we stress that Iraq’s Development Road project, which is nearing completion, offers a practical model for taking this course that could serve as a basis for genuine Arab partnership.

 

Iraq does not see itself as a lone actor. We believe that Iraq’s role is to bring its brothers together again, restore confidence in the institutions through which Arab states organize joint actions, and lay the foundations for a new era of political and economic partnership. Arab national security is a collective objective that cannot be achieved without genuine cooperation, balanced policy, and strong institutions that safeguard the supreme interests of the Arab nation.

 

Today, we are not merely rebuilding Iraq; we are redrawing the contours of the Middle East through a balanced foreign policy, conscious leadership, developmental projects, and strategic partnerships. From Baghdad, we say to all Arab capitals: the time has come for a fresh start, new foundations, a new methodology, and determination.

 

Baghdad, the capital of Arab thought and shared Arab history, welcomes the Arab Summit with open arms. The Iraqi people are confident that what unites us is greater than what divides us, and that we have a precious opportunity to shape a future before us- a cohesive future that ensures dignified lives for our people.