The U.S. and Iraq held  Strategic Dialogue meetings in Washington. During the visit, Iraqi officials inked “substantial energy agreements with U.S. companies”, and the two sides issued a joint statement. In a press conference alongside his Iraqi counterpart, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo emphasised that “we’re committed to helping Iraq achieve economic prosperity, freedom from foreign meddling in its internal affairs and improved relationships with its neighbors as well”. Pompeo also asserted that “armed groups not under the full control of the prime minister have impeded our progress. Those groups need to be replaced by local police as soon as possible”. In turn, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein maintained that “we want to have good relations with our neighbors, provided that nobody interferes in Iraq’s affairs and the Iraqi decision will be made by the Iraqis, and we want to protect our alliances and relations with others, including the United States of America”.