Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassem Al-Araji met today, Tuesday (September 16, 2025), with his Russian counterpart, Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, and his accompanying delegation in Baghdad. The meeting, which was also attended by the Russian Ambassador to Iraq, aimed to strengthen security, economic, strategic, and investment relations between the two countries.
According to a statement from the National Security Advisor’s media office, Al-Araji welcomed the Russian delegation and affirmed that the Iraqi government is serious about developing its cooperation with Russia. The visit comes in preparation for an anticipated meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an upcoming Arab summit in Moscow, which Al-Sudani will chair.
The meeting focused on several key issues of mutual interest, including information exchange, technology transfer, and training in areas such as border security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and counter-narcotics. The two sides also discussed recent regional developments and their respective governments’ efforts to de-escalate the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Shoigu, for his part, expressed Russia’s sincere desire to enhance its relations and joint cooperation with Iraq across all fields.
