UK and Iraq boost cooperation on trade, growth and illegal migration
The UK will benefit from boosts to trade and further cooperation on tackling illegal migration聽as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani visits Downing Street.
- The Prime Minister will host Iraqi Prime Minister in Downing Street to mark a revamped relationship between the UK and Iraq, working more closely to deliver economic growth for both countries
- The leaders will聽announce an up to 拢12.3聽billion export package to boost opportunities for British business and drive forward economic growth as part of the Plan for Change
- They will also start talks on a specific returns agreement,聽expected to support crack down on illegal migration and strengthen UK borders聽
The UK will benefit from boosts to trade and further cooperation on tackling illegal migration聽as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia鈥� Al Sudani visits Downing Street today (Tuesday 14 January) for talks with the Prime Minister.聽
As part of the closer economic relationship being forged today, the Prime Minister and his counterpart聽will announce an up to 拢12.3 billion export package, worth around ten times last year鈥檚 trade between the UK and Iraq.聽聽This package is underpinned by a series of export agreements which will boost the growing trading relationship between the UK and Iraq, representing significant opportunities for UK businesses and contributing to the government鈥檚 mission to deliver economic growth. 聽
The leaders will also discuss a new specific migrant returns agreement between the UK and Iraq. Once in place, the deal聽will ensure those who have no right to be in the UK can be returned swiftly.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
Today marks a new era in UK-Iraq cooperation, which will deliver mutual benefits from trade to defence, as we continue to work together towards stability in the wider region.
It鈥檚 clear that Iraq shares our priority of delivering economic growth and聽the 拢12.3 billion export package being unveiled today offers huge opportunities for British businesses, representing a step-change in the trade and investment relationship between our two countries.
Secure borders are a vital foundation of our Plan for Change, so I am also very pleased get started on talks for a bespoke returns agreement between our countries. The deal will help dismantle the people smugglers鈥� business model by sending the clear message that if you come here illegally, you cannot expect to stay.
The leaders will sign a milestone Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, leveraging UK private sector expertise on water, energy, telecoms, and defence infrastructure to secure future investment projects and major opportunities for British business.聽
Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds said:
This yet another vote of confidence in Britain. As an open, proud trading nation our trade strategy will build upon deals like this to strengthen our economy. This announcement reflects our evolving bilateral relationship and represents a step forward in our growing trade partnership.
This agreement 鈥� a significant 拢12 billion export package, helped by our UK Export Finance - will give UK and Iraqi business more certainty and help lead to growth and genuine shared benefits for both our economies.
In a further demonstration of how our cooperation with international partners delivers for the UK, the leaders will also mark the export of 拢66.5 million worth of equipment from the UK to strengthen Iraq鈥檚 borders and disrupt smuggling gangs, delivering on the government鈥檚 Plan for Change by securing our border and delivering economic growth.
This comes as the government fulfils its pledge聽deliver the highest rate of removals since 2018 with a surge in returns activity leading to 16,400 people with no right to be in the UK removed.聽The talks also build on the Home Secretary鈥檚 visit to Iraq in November, where she signed agreements including the largest-ever operational package between the UK and Iraq on border security and law enforcement, in order to enhance Iraq鈥檚 capability to tackle people smuggling. Today鈥檚 talks will strengthen the implementation of this pact.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
When I signed the landmark deal with Iraq in November, it was a clear signal of our commitment to dismantle the criminal smuggling gangs together.
Our world-first security agreement with Iraq is already showing its impact. By strengthening border security with our Border Security Command, enhancing intelligence-sharing, and providing additional funding to support Iraq鈥檚 law enforcement capabilities, we鈥檙e targeting people smuggling gangs where it hurts.
Today is the next step in ensuring this important partnership with Iraq goes from strength to strength. As a result, we are making it harder for criminals to exploit vulnerable people, and ultimately we are bringing them to justice.
Last week, the UK also launched the world鈥檚 first standalone sanctions regime targeting people smugglers. Expected to come into force within the year, the regime will clamp down on illicit financing rings who make huge profits exploiting vulnerable people by facilitating illegal migration. 聽
The meeting with Prime Minister Al-Sudani follows the Prime Minister鈥檚 visit to the Gulf in December to support stability in the Middle East and deliver a foundation of security at home. 聽
The Prime Minister will further bolster the UK鈥檚 defence relationship with the region today with the signing of a joint statement which will deepen the UK鈥檚 cooperation with Iraq a decade on from the establishment of the Global Coalition鈥檚 mission in Iraq and Operation Inherent Resolve leading to the territorial defeat of Daesh.