Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani informed western officials he met in Munich that his country was keen on ending the deployment of the forces of the US-led international coalition to fight ISIS.
Sudani was in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference. He met with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, US Vice President Kamala Harris and members of the US Congress.
The PM stressed that Iraq was forging ahead in “reviewing” its relations with the international coalition to pave the way for its eventual withdrawal from his country.
Stoltenberg said after meeting Sudani that cooperation in offering consultations and training to Iraqi security forces will be expanded to cover Interior Ministry personnel.
Washington, meanwhile, spoke of a “permanent” bilateral security partnership with Baghdad.
Baghdad and Washington often express different stances over the crisis related to the US troop deployment. The crisis erupted three months ago in wake of Iraqi armed factions’ attacks on American bases in Iraq and Syria.
Baghdad announced in January that it had agreed with Washington on kicking off discussions over the future of the coalition aimed at setting a timetable for its withdrawal and ending its mission.
Meetings were held between Iraq and the US to discuss the extent of the threat posed by ISIS and the operational demands on the ground, and on bolstering the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces.
Iraq has come to view the deployment of the coalition as a source of instability given the strikes the US has carried out against Iraqi armed factions that in turn attack its bases. The attacks have increased since Israel waged its war on Gaza on October 7.
The US Defense Department has on two occasions in the past two months denied that the ongoing discussions between Baghdad and Washington are tackling the withdrawal.
Sudani met with VP Harris on Friday, stressing that Iraq’s position is “unyielding in regard to its sovereignty”.
A statement from his office said the officials agreed to continue dialogue through the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission to end the mission of the anti-ISIS coalition in Iraq now that the Iraqi armed forces have sufficiently developed their capabilities and after the terrorist threat has waned.
A White House statement said Harris “urged the Iraqi government to prevent attacks against US personnel and expressed appreciation for the prime minister’s efforts to date.”
“She stated that the United States has no higher priority than the safety of US personnel, and will act, as needed, in self-defense,” said the statement that made no reference to the withdrawal of American troops.
Harris and Sudani also “reaffirmed their mutual interest in a strong and enduring partnership as envisioned in the US-Iraq Strategic Framework Agreement.”
She reiterated President Joe Biden’s invitation to Sudani to visit the White House.
In a departure from his predecessors, the PM has yet to visit the US since he came to power in October 2022. Some observers believe the visit had not been planned yet due to Washington’s reservations over the presence of pro-Iran groups in the Iraqi government.
