Saudi Arabia has reopened a consulate in Iraq for the first time since 1990 as Riyadh advanced efforts to warm ties with Baghdad. Indications that Saudi Arabia was adopting a more conciliatory approach towards Iraq emerged in 2017 as the kingdom sought to woo its neighbor away from regional rival Iran using the prospect of financial assistance well beyond the capacity of Iran (MEES, 1 September 2017). But despite multiple pledges of enhanced commercial ties, concrete actions have been limited (MEES, 3 August 2018).
During this week’s visit Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment Majid al-Qassabi lauded a “new phase of relations” but $1.5bn in pledged financial assistance appears to merely be reiterating last year’s commitment (MEES, 16 February 2018). Similarly, plans to re-open the Arar border crossing are inching slowly ahead, with Mr Qassabi putting a six-month timeframe on the project. (CONTINUED - 136 WORDS)