The leader of Iraq is set to visit Michigan on Thursday to engage with the state's significant Iraqi population and provide updates on escalating tensions in the Middle East. This visit comes in the wake of a recent aerial assault on Israel by Iran-backed groups, which has heightened concerns in the region.
The trip by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was planned prior to the recent events and includes stops in Washington and Michigan to discuss U.S.-Iraq relations. Michigan, home to one of the largest Iraqi communities in the U.S., has a substantial Arab American population, with many expressing concerns over the conflict in the Middle East.
Upon arrival in Detroit, the prime minister will be greeted by local leaders and community members, including Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. He is scheduled to visit a mosque in Dearborn Heights to meet with Iraqi community members and officials to discuss economic relations between Iraq and the U.S.
Michigan boasts over 90,000 residents of Iraqi descent, the highest in any state, with Wayne County having a significant percentage of residents of Middle Eastern and North African ancestry. The concentration of Iraqi residents in the Detroit area has attracted visits from officials engaged in Middle Eastern relations in the past.
Recent developments in the region, including the drone and missile strikes and concerns over the American military presence in Iraq, have raised questions about the ongoing conflict. However, U.S. forces, along with Israeli efforts, successfully intercepted numerous missiles and drones, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the region.
