BAGHDAD: British Prime Minister Theresa May made a surprise visit to Iraq on Wednesday, meeting her Iraqi counterpart in Baghdad as the war against Daesh winds down.
Iraq’s government released footage of May arriving in Baghdad, greeted by an honor guard, to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi on her first trip to Iraq as prime minister.
“In Iraq, we are working together to defeat Daesh and my visit comes at a critical moment as we see the caliphate collapsing with the fall of Mosul and Raqqa,” May told journalists.
“We want to ensure that Iraq can in the future provide that strong, stable and unified state that can provide the security, jobs and opportunities that all Iraqis want and deserve,” she added.
Abadi later said May’s visit showed Britain’s “support and help” in fighting Daesh. Some 600 British troops are deployed to the country. “Iraq is about to enter a new stage of rebuilding, reconstruction and investment,” Abadi said. “Today, we discussed with the prime minister the strengthening of economic and commercial ties between the two countries.”
May also visited Camp Taji, a coalition base north of Baghdad, where around 80 British troops are currently based. May will also visit Jordan and meet with King Abdallah on her trip.