Foreign Affairs: The US government seeks to strengthen a sustainable relationship with Iraq

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[size=52]Foreign Affairs: The US government seeks to strengthen a sustainable relationship with Iraq[/size]

[size=45]Translated by / Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]The American magazine, Foreign Affairs, indicated that the United States, after two years of relative stability in Iraq and a new administration represented by President Joe Payne, the two countries may finally move towards sustainable relations, and that the signs of this relationship took root at the beginning of August when representatives of the two countries met in Washington to launch negotiations for a long-term defense partnership, which will determine the nature of the relationship that the United States seeks in Iraq.[/size]
[size=45]The report states that the number of American forces currently in the country, which amounts to about 2,000 or so, is focused on training the Iraqi security forces and providing advice to them, and that the desired goal of this is to improve the capabilities of the Iraqi forces to carry out their tasks independently without assistance. But for the time being, the US Army is carrying out campaigns against ISIS in Iraq and Syria in cooperation with partner forces in the two countries, as the number of operations of this type carried out during the year 2022 reached 313 operations.[/size]
[size=45]Under a new agreement between the United States and Iraq, cooperation is likely to continue at the technical and advisory levels, with a greater focus on the Iraqi forces eventually reaching the level of reliance on their capabilities in the field, especially the elite forces. In order to achieve this goal of developing the capabilities of the forces, it requires better coordination between the various types of Iraqi forces.[/size]
[size=45]The report indicates that the best way to move forward with a more natural and friendly US-Iraqi relationship that preserves the interests of the Iraqi people without conflicting with the security of the United States is to help Iraq strengthen its state capabilities.[/size]
[size=45]Foreign Affairs magazine says in its report that the Biden administration has turned its attention to the military aspect of the relationship with Iraq. The statement issued in August after discussions on the joint security dialogue between the two countries addressed the efforts currently being made to contain the threat of ISIS and train the Iraqi security forces. But the discussions may include a broader framework for reaching a sustainable security relationship. This security coordination may ultimately pave the way for signs of the withdrawal of American forces. This was also confirmed by Dana Stroul, a Pentagon official, when she said in a statement at a press conference, “I think it is fair to say that after decades of years have passed in the future, the presence of American forces in Iraq will not be as we are today.” It seems that the message that Stroll wants to convey is that the United States will reduce its military presence in the country.[/size]
[size=45]As for the present time, the US military’s assistance to Iraq will continue, and instead of making open-ended pledges to the large-scale Iraqi security forces, Washington should focus on the most effective type of army formations, which is the Counter-Terrorism Service and the Organized Crime Combat Service. American trainers must prioritize their tasks to encourage coordination and exchange of information between different Iraqi units and increase the ability of these units to conduct reconnaissance operations and collect intelligence information in order to accurately identify targets. The Iraqi forces will also need to develop their capabilities to carry out joint military operations on a limited scale, combining ground forces, air support, and artillery that will perform their duties in a joint coordination manner.[/size]
[size=45]The report indicates that as for reaching the goal of ending the American military presence in Iraq, decision-makers in the United States still have to develop a plan to reduce the number of American forces currently present in the country during the next few years. Washington must continue to strengthen the capabilities of the Iraqi state through sustainable traditional diplomatic channels, targeted assistance, and economic coordination. Working with the government in Baghdad carries many promising aspects, which is that the political parties in Iraq stand by the position of the country’s Prime Minister, Muhammad Shiaa al-Sudani, regarding the issue of the presence of American forces, which supports the continued presence of a number of forces for the purposes of training and developing the capabilities of the Iraqi army.[/size]
[size=45]Foreign Affairs says in its report that Washington has a moral responsibility to help the Iraqis face other economic and environmental difficulties, in addition to the security and military aspects. Iraq is facing the consequences of climate change that affects agriculture, as well as the deteriorating performance of electrical power stations in providing citizens with continuous electrical current, after decades of wars, conflicts, mismanagement, and neglect resulting from the consequences of the American invasion of the country.[/size]
[size=45]Washington and Baghdad must work together towards a future in which the Iraqi state does not need to rely on American forces to guarantee its security and cohesion.[/size]
[size=45]• About Foreign Affairs magazine[/size]
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