Bush Makes Surprise Visit to Baghdad, Holds Talks with Maliki and New Cabinet

President George W. Bush traveled to Baghdad on 13 June 2006 in an unannounced trip, arriving at the American embassy to hold face-to-face talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. No prior public notice had been given of the visit, making it a surprise appearance in the Iraqi capital.

Beyond the session with Maliki, Bush met with members of Iraq's newly formed cabinet. The talks specifically included the ministers holding the interior, defense, and oil portfolios, three of the most prominent posts in the new government.

The Baghdad trip was Bush's first visit to Iraq since November 2004. It came in place of a video conference with Maliki that had been scheduled for the same day, and that had been planned as part of ongoing White House consultations on American policy in the country.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.