Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi won the first round of US-Iraqi strategic talks that kicked off last Wednesday to tackle the US military presence in Iraq.
The talks came amid deep national and political division, mainly over members of the Iraqi delegation that participated in the meetings, the nature of the dialogue, in addition to a Katyusha missile that hit the Green Zone in Baghdad.
However, a joint Iraqi-US statement and an announcement by the US Secretary of State came to prove a development in relations.
Even the missile incident, launched to embarrass Kadhimi before the talks, was considered by Washington as benefiting to the dialogue between the two sides.
In this regard, Washington’s Secretary of State said this rocket being fired at the United States, at the embassy in Baghdad, “highlights exactly why we have to have this strategic dialogue,” adding that agreements with the Kadhimi government suggest that Iraqis are committed to demonstrating – re-establishing sovereignty, exercising control of these – of rogue militias, and having a unified security service in the country.
A joint Iraqi-US statement following the strategic talks said that Washington reiterated that it does not seek nor request permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq.
The US also expressed its solidarity with the Republic of Iraq, not only through close bilateral cooperation on the security and political levels, but also through its support for Iraq and the new Iraqi government.
Also, the joint statement said bot nations reiterated the importance of assisting Iraq in implementing its governmental program and reforms in a manner that reflects the aspirations of the Iraqi people, including carrying out humanitarian efforts, restoring stability, rebuilding the country, and organizing free, fair, and credible elections.
“The United States, with its international partners, emphasized its continued support for Iraq’s electoral preparations, efforts to strengthen rule of law, human rights, and the return and reintegration of displaced people, especially the smaller components of Iraqi society that were targeted for genocide by ISIS,” the statement read.
On the security partnership, the two countries recognized that in light of significant progress towards eliminating the ISIS threat, over the coming months the US would continue reducing forces from Iraq and discuss with the Iraqi government the status of remaining forces as both countries turn their focus towards developing a bilateral security relationship based on strong mutual interests.
In this regard, Iraqi militia expert Hisham al-Hashemi told Asharq Al-Awsat that “The Iraqi-US talks achieved the main document of principles that would be legally developed during the first round of talks expected next July.”
He said this document should offer Iraq a solid ground that would enable Baghdad to write the texts of the US-Iraqi agreement based on the national interest of Iraq ahead of signing an understanding with Washington during the next fall.
“The results of the first round of talks are positive,” Saad al-Matlabi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“However,” he added, “we are still waiting to look at the details before reaching an agreement that protects the supreme interests of Iraq and that could keep Baghdad away from regional axes.”
