Minister of Foreign Affairs Calls for the Resumption of Direct Flights Between Baghdad and Vienna During Meeting with Austrian Federal Minister of the Interior at the Munich Security Conference

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein, met on Saturday, 14 February 2026, with the Austrian Federal Minister of the Interior, H.E. Mr. Gerhard Karner, and his accompanying delegation, on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference.

At the outset of the meeting, H.E. the Minister commended the positive development in bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, particularly in the areas of counterterrorism, migration, and combating organized crime, underscoring the importance of enhancing mechanisms for coordination and joint cooperation. H.E. also called for the resumption of direct flights between Baghdad and Vienna in light of the notable improvement in Iraq’s security situation, noting that such a step would contribute to enhancing mobility and boosting economic and tourism exchange between the two countries.

For his part, Minister Karner expressed his satisfaction with the current level of cooperation between Iraq and Austria and welcomed the invitation extended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to visit Iraq and meet with the Iraqi Minister of Interior and relevant officials, in a manner that would further advance bilateral cooperation across various fields of mutual interest.

The meeting also included a review of political developments in Iraq and the region, including the formation of the new Iraqi government in accordance with constitutional entitlements, as well as broader developments in the Middle East, particularly the political and security situation in Syria.