The head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, affirmed on Monday Iraq’s readiness to defend its relations and interests with the United States.

His office said in a statement that al-Maliki received former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Taylor at his office today, where they discussed developments in the region and their implications for Iraq.

According to the statement, al-Maliki said that Iraq and the United States have strong relations and that the two countries have signed the Strategic Framework Agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation and supporting Iraq’s capacity-building across various sectors. He called for activating the agreement in the near future.

He stressed “Iraq’s readiness to defend its relations and interests with the United States,” explaining that strengthening ties comes through maintaining economic partnerships that serve the interests of both peoples.

Al‑Maliki noted that Iraq pursues a balanced foreign policy with all countries in the region, adding that the ongoing dialogues among national political forces aim to complete the constitutional requirements related to the next phase of forming a government capable of meeting the needs of the Iraqi people.

For her part, Taylor emphasized the importance of Iraq’s pivotal role in the region, noting that it is an active player in efforts to restore stability and enhance regional security.