Officially, Italy will lead NATO in Iraq

[size=52]Officially, Italy will lead NATO in Iraq[/size]

[size=45]NATO officially assigned Italy the next leadership for the mission in Iraq, after Italy wanted that and got the mission due to great strategic, security and economic interests.[/size]
[size=45]For 2021, it is expected that a maximum of 1,100 units will be deployed in Iraqi territory. From the end of 2021, there will be no more American soldiers in a combat job.[/size]
[size=45]And the website "Decode 39" of the Italian magazine "Formichi" said that Italy will officially lead the strong commitment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Iraq as of next spring.[/size]
[size=45]The Alliance sent formal notification to the Permanent Representation of Italy led by Ambassador Francesco Talo. Meanwhile, Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini received the official assignment to the leadership “with satisfaction”, as he followed up on the file and promoted the Italian candidacy at many tables with allies and partners, starting with the Baghdad authorities.[/size]
[size=45]And after 4 trips to the country in a little more than a year, the last contact was a few weeks ago, in Rome’s meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Juma Inad, as part of the visit of the government delegation headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, who met Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.[/size]
[size=45]Guerini said on this occasion that "the Italian institutions stand by Iraq and support its stability." This prompted Italy to run for the “NATO Mission in Iraq,” active since 2018, which the alliance chose to reinforce as early as February 2020, in compliance with Baghdad’s request.[/size]
[size=45]It is a mission to advise, train and develop non-combat capabilities in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq. It will be led by Italy from next May, when the mandate entrusted to Denmark expires.[/size]
[size=45]The decision to strengthen NATO's commitment in Iraq came in the wake of America's difficulties in the country between attacks on American bases and complaints about Iraqi politics itself (of Tehran's influence) after the killing of Iranian leader Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in January of last year.[/size]
[size=45]As the need on the ground developed due to the mitigation of the frontal threat of ISIS (the defeated on the ground), which directed Iraq to obtain greater support for the elements of reinforcement and prevention: training, intelligence and advisory. And the strengthening of NATO's mission comes through a gradual transfer of skills from the global coalition against ISIS, which was established with the specific purpose of fighting and defeating ISIS.[/size]
[size=45]Italy, for its part, has chosen to increase its commitment to Iraq, in response to the demands of Baghdad and the United States (which has long asked its allies to take more responsibility in the Middle East) and its national interests. Where interests of a strategic and economic nature join the war on terror.[/size]
[size=45]According to Italian Oil Union data, Iraq was the second largest supplier of crude oil to Italy in 2020, covering more than 17% of national demand. In 2019, it was in the first place with a share of 20%, while in the first four months of 2021 it ranked fourth after Azerbaijan, Libya and Saudi Arabia.[/size]
[size=45]In 2020, the Italian Parliament authorized the deployment of 1,100 units for Operation Prima Partica within the coalition against ISIS, and 46 units for the NATO training mission. The Italian Council of Ministers approved the decision on international missions in mid-June. The partial movement of assets from the Alliance to the NATO mission can be estimated, with the former experiencing a maximum deployment of 900 units (less than 200 units in 2020) and the latter rising to around 280 units (more than 200 compared to 2020).[/size]
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