Austin sends a veiled message to Baghdad that the US presence in Iraq will continue

Austin sends a veiled message to Baghdad that the US presence in Iraq will continue

7-25-2024

Information/Baghdad…
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stressed to his Iraqi counterpart Thabet Al-Abbasi on Wednesday the importance of Iraq continuing to provide support to the international coalition to defeat ISIS in Syria and around the world.

A statement by the Pentagon received by / Al-Maalouma / stated that “the US Department of Defense and the Iraqi Ministry of Defense led the second US-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue in Washington, DC, on July 22-23, 2024, where they reaffirmed their commitment to security cooperation and shared interest in regional stability.”

“The two delegations discussed a range of bilateral security issues under the 2008 U.S.-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement and in recognition of our comprehensive partnership, Defense Minister Thabet Al-Abbasi met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and representatives from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, U.S. Central Command, the Department of State, and the National Security Council staff. The Iraqi delegation included the Chief of Defense Staff, who also met separately with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, the Director of the Counter-Terrorism Service, the Deputy Commander of the Joint Operations Command – Iraq, and other senior defense officials. The U.S. and Iraqi delegations reaffirmed their commitment to developing Iraq’s security and defense capabilities and their determination to deepen security cooperation across the full range of issues to advance the two countries’ shared interest in Iraq’s security and sovereignty and the stability of the region,” he added.

“The 2024 Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue builds on discussions held during the visit of the Iraqi-Sudanese Prime Minister to Washington, D.C. in April of this year and the inaugural Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue last summer. During the first Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue, the two sides decided to establish a bilateral high-level military committee to analyze three factors – the threat posed by ISIS, operational requirements, and the capability levels of Iraqi security forces – to determine the future of the international military coalition in Iraq. The dialogue continued during the Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue, building on HMC’s work over the past six months and in celebration of the upcoming 10th anniversary of the international coalition’s defeat of ISIS’s military mission in Iraq. A detailed joint statement on the future of the international coalition’s mission and presence in Iraq is scheduled to be issued shortly after HMC’s conclusion,” he said.

He explained that “the United States intends to continue consultations with Iraq on enhancing bilateral cooperation to ensure the permanent defeat of ISIS after more than a decade of cooperation between the international coalition and Iraq. Hamad Medical Corporation noted the historic achievements of the coalition in Iraq and commended the millions of victims of ISIS, including hundreds of thousands of victims who suffered in the campaign to defeat ISIS in Iraq, such as members of the Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga, and partner forces around the world, including the United States. The two sides stressed the importance of Iraq continuing to provide support to the international coalition to defeat ISIS in Syria and around the world.”

He pointed out that “the two delegations reached an understanding on the concept of the new phase of the bilateral security relationship, which includes cooperation through liaison officers, training, and traditional security cooperation programs. The delegations also discussed efforts to build the operational capacity of Iraqi security forces through US military assistance and security cooperation programs, including through foreign military sales and foreign military financing.”

The two sides stressed the importance of continued cooperation to ensure the sustainability of US-made military equipment used by Iraqi security forces.”

The delegations emphasized the value of professional military education and technical training programs and decided to strengthen both. They also explored opportunities to expand Iraqi participation in regional military exercises led by U.S. Central Command and to strengthen Iraqi military relations with U.S. Central Command service component commands.”

The two sides also decided to begin work on a Memorandum of Understanding to provide an enhanced framework for their bilateral security relationship in the coming years, including mechanisms to ensure the continued defeat of the terrorist organization ISIS.

Delegations reaffirmed that the advisory mission is in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi government to support the Iraqi security forces in the fight against ISIS and to support and develop the Iraqi security forces, including the Kurdish security forces. The Iraqi representatives reaffirmed their absolute commitment to protect the diplomatic personnel, advisors, convoys and facilities of the United States and the international coalition countries. Delegations also discussed the continuing urgent need to return the displaced and detainees currently in northeastern Syria to their countries of origin and support their reintegration.

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