American website: NATO's role in Iraq is subject to expansion in the future

[size=52][size=45]Translated by Hamid Ahmed[/size][/size]

[size=45]NATO is returning its training and advisory duties after a hiatus that began with the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in January 2020.[/size]
[size=45]Paolo Napolitano, a former security analyst and strategist at NATO, points out that despite the United States renewing its support for the alliance, it seems to the new administration of US President Joe Biden that he is still heading towards reducing the American role in Iraq, indicating that the European allies within NATO will be called to a greater role. At a time when the United States seeks to reduce its forces there.[/size]
[size=45]Expanding the scope of the mission will offer NATO an opportunity to assess its limited role in the Middle East, as well as its ability to achieve effective results in reforming the security sector in such a polarized security and political environment. The mission is destined to succeed only if it is funded by the member states of the coalition and deeply constructively engaged with the Iraqi side.[/size]
[size=45]In February 2021 NATO defense ministers agreed to expand the Alliance’s mission in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]Napolitano, an analyst, says that the expanded mission will work with a wider range of ministries beyond the scope of the Ministry of Defense, indicating that there will be a significant increase in the number of personnel as well, as more than 4000 military and civilian personnel will be included in the new mission of NATO after the maximum number in the country was 500. . This expansion will be in the process of increasing according to the circumstances and subject to negotiation step by step by the Iraqi authorities.[/size]
[size=45]Since the establishment of the NATO mission in Iraq in 2018, its focus has been on enhancing the professionalism of the Iraqi security forces and providing advice to security institutions, while giving courses to Iraqi trainers, including the Iraqi Army School for Combating Explosives, the School of Administrative and Logistical Affairs and the Military Medical School.[/size]
[size=45]These activities were complementary to the work of the international coalition against ISIS led by the United States, the work of the United Nations and the European Union advisory mission in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]During the past year, many of these activities were stopped due to several factors, including the killing of General Qassem Soleimani and the accompanying events, as well as the measures taken to limit the spread of the Corona epidemic, all of these factors contributed to stopping the progress of the NATO mission in Iraq and the departure of its members to the country.[/size]
[size=45]With the reduction of the international coalition against ISIS in its role and activities in Iraq, it is expected in return to expand the scope of NATO's mission in the country.[/size]
[size=45]Expanding the role of NATO in exchange for reducing the role of the international coalition does not mean transferring the tasks of the international alliance to NATO, as the mandate of the two parties differs from one another, and NATO will remain within its non-combat mission, but NATO will build on the coalition's gains and place its focus more on the level of strategic advice once the military role is completed. Support for the coalition forces.[/size]
[size=45]NATO can provide techniques for building the competence and capacity of the Iraqi forces in the field of training and advice in coordination according to the strategy of the Iraqi government with the support of NATO.[/size]
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