Al-Zaidi forms a committee on post-coalition security partnership with US

Shafaq News- Washington

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has ordered, on Tuesday,the formation of an Iraqi committee to negotiate the future security andmilitary relationship with the United States following the planned withdrawalof US forces serving as part of the Global Coalition against ISIS.

The prime minister's military spokesperson, Sabah Al-Numan, statedthat the directive followed official talks between Al-Zaidi and US Secretary ofDefense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon on Tuesday evening, Baghdad time, addingthat the committee will engage with US officials to define the framework offuture security and military cooperation ahead of the coalition mission'sscheduled conclusion on September 30.

“The new relationship will reflect Iraq's sovereignty andsupport the Iraqi armed forces' full authority across the country, emphasizingtheir ability to protect Iraq by land and air.

During the meeting, Al-Zaidi and Hegseth reviewed bilateralsecurity and military ties and agreed on several areas of mutual interest,including continued intelligence sharing to support counterterrorism efforts.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination todismantle terrorist networks and safe havens, while expanding cooperation intraining, military equipment, and efforts to enhance the capabilities of Iraq'sarmed forces. The discussions also covered broader technical, technological,and digital cooperation in security and defense applications, as well asmilitary equipment and armaments, with both sides reaffirming respect forIraq's sovereignty.

Earlier, Al-Numan told Shafaq News in an exclusive interviewthat Baghdad plans to establish a bilateral military partnership withWashington after the coalition mission ends, focusing on training, armscooperation, intelligence sharing, and strengthening Iraq's armed forces.

Read more: Al-Zaidi at the White House: A sustainable partnership or continued crisis management? ...