United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (27) that he will cut American aid to Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns to office.
Maliki was Prime Minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014 and last weekend the alliance of Shiite political blocs, the majority in the Iraqi Parliament, chose him as their candidate for prime minister, opening the way for negotiations to form a new government.
“I have heard that the great country of Iraq may be making a big mistake by reinstating Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister. The last time Maliki was in power, the country was plunged into poverty and total chaos. This must not happen again,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social network.
“Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if he is elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq, and if we are not there to help, Iraq will have zero chance of success, prosperity or freedom. Make Iraq great again!”
Maliki’s eight years of rule were marked by accusations of corruption, the Islamic State taking control of a large part of the country, strengthening Shiite militias and close relations with Iranian authorities and military.
Last year, Trump threatened to cut aid to Argentina and Honduras if Javier Milei’s party (president who received billion-dollar aid from Washington to stabilize the dollar) did not win the October legislative elections and if Nasry “Tito” Asfura, from the conservative National Party, did not emerge victorious in the November presidential election in the Central American country. In both disputes, the result desired by the Republican was achieved.
