From the moment he was nominated as Iraq’s prime minister in late April, Ali al-Zaidi has had one priority: to charm US President Donald Trump. So far, he appears to be succeeding. Mr Trump said during his meeting with Mr Zaidi at the White House on 14 July, that he felt “tremendous chemistry” with the young leader, predicting that “he’s going to be there for a long time…he’s going to be one of the great leaders in the Middle East.”
Mr Zaidi assumed power during a turbulent period for Iraq. The US-Iran War is reshaping the region’s geopolitical order, placing even more strain on Baghdad’s delicate balancing act between American and Iranian influence. A businessman with no prior political experience, he was appointed after President Trump threatened sanctions should the Iran-backed candidate Nouri al-Maliki be selected (MEES, 30 January). (CONTINUED - 3054 WORDS)
