Why time was right for Iraq and Saudi Arabia to focus on common enemies
The populist Iraqi cleric and politician, Moqtada Al Sadr, stepped off of his airplane and onto a tarmac in Jeddah’s searing heat and humidity in his customary black robe and turban. He was greeted by Tamer Al Sabhan, the former Saudi ambassador to Iraq who was forced to leave the country last year after remarks […]Taimur Khan writes for The National:
The populist Iraqi cleric and politician, Moqtada Al Sadr, stepped off of his airplane and onto a tarmac in Jeddah’s searing heat and humidity in his customary black robe and turban. He was greeted by Tamer Al Sabhan, the former Saudi ambassador to Iraq who was forced to leave the country last year after remarks critical of Shiite militias fighting ISIL. Upon his return he was promoted to minister of state for Arabian Gulf affairs and has maintained his ties with various influential Iraqis.
Images of the unannounced trip to the kingdom on Sunday by the Shiite leader — himself the commander a militia — and of his meeting later that day with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, startled even close observers of a region that is ever more defined by brutal sectarian logic.
A desire to begin balancing Iranian influence in Baghdad is fueling an emergent and still tentative but determined engagement between Riyadh and Shiite power brokers in Baghdad for the first time since relations soured badly during the tenure of the previous prime minister.
