Iraqi PM to visit US for talks on US-led coalition presence future
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The two leaders are scheduled to meet in Washington on April 15 to "coordinate on common priorities and reinforce the strong bilateral partnership between the United States and Iraq."
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Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani chairs the first session of negotiations between Iraq and the US in Baghdad, Iraq, on January 27, 2024. (AP)
White House spokesman Karine Jean-Pierre revealed Friday that Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia'a Al-Sudani will go to Washington in mid-April to address the "evolution" of the current US-led military campaign.
Jean-Pierre detailed that President Joe Biden will welcome al-Sudani on April 15 to "coordinate on common priorities and reinforce the strong bilateral partnership between the United States and Iraq."
She added that both leaders would discuss various issues including the "shared commitment to the lasting defeat of ISIS and evolution of the military mission nearly ten years after forming the successful Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS."
Jean-Pierre's statement also detailed how the two will discuss Iraq's continuing financial reforms and progress toward energy independence.
CENTCOM commander does not recommend US withdrawal from Iraq
Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, said in a congressional hearing on Thursday that he would not advise US President Joe Biden to remove American troops from Iraq until the country can manage the prevailing "regional threats" on its own.
Kurilla expressed during a House Armed Services Committee meeting that Iraq would need to handle "that fight by themselves."
Celeste Wallander, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, concurred with Kurilla's testimony about the matter throughout the hearing.
Last month, the Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, announced that his country had requested the US-led international coalition to end its 10-year-long presence in Iraq, emphasizing the effectiveness and capabilities of the Iraqi security services.
Al-Sudani made these remarks during a dialogue seminar, coinciding with his official visit to the Netherlands. The seminar was attended by a group of businessmen and representatives from 40 Dutch companies.
According to the PM, "The main purpose of winding down the US-led military coalition’s mission is to eliminate all possible pretexts for attacks on its advisors."
Leaving Iraq may be Washington’s wisest choice: Foreign Policy
According to a report published by Foreign Policy in February, US airstrikes against Iraqi Resistance forces in response to the death of three US soldiers in Jordan in late January may provoke significant political backlash in Baghdad, with uncertain implications for the US military presence in Iraq.
For years, the US has wasted significant resources and personnel in Iraq. The report indicates that Baghdad may eventually determine it's time for the US and the coalition to withdraw, allowing Iraq to address the ongoing threat posed by ISIS independently.
It suggests that twenty years after the invasion of Iraq, it is now appropriate for the Biden administration to begin considering the optimal approach for minimizing the US military presence there, adding that "while American forces in Iraqi Kurdistan act as a crucial node for logistical support for the forces in Syria, this presence may also no longer be necessary if Washington withdraws its small military contingent from Syria."
The report also says the ongoing US military presence in Iraq is becoming less beneficial, running the risk of damaging US credibility with a sudden withdrawal similar to the events in Afghanistan. Moreover, the report added that pulling out from Iraq could solidify the perception of a US military retreat, especially considering the strategic shift towards focusing on Asia.
