Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will visit Washington on Monday as part of efforts to strengthen strategic relations with the United States, amid expectations of signing agreements in the oil and gas sectors as part of a broader trend to expand economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Iraq seeks to balance its relations with both the United States and Iran, at a time when military escalation between the two adversaries continues.

Haider al-Aboudi, the spokesman for the Iraqi government, said on Sunday in a press conference quoted by the Iraqi News Agency: "Among the memoranda of understanding to be signed between Iraq and the United States in the fields of oil and gas, and the introduction of specialized American companies that will raise the level of productive capacity."

The agency quoted al-Aboudi as saying that the agreements to be signed in the oil and gas sectors will also include working to find alternative export outlets, thereby reducing Iraq's exposure to navigation disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Al-Aboudi added that enhancing the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces will also be among the files to be discussed during the talks in Washington, affirming that "among the visit will be the file of arming the security forces and developing our heroic forces."