Iraqi premier, US CENTCOM chief discuss counterterrorism, future security ties

ISTANBUL

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met Tuesday in Baghdad with Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), to review security cooperation and the future of counterterrorism efforts.

A statement from al-Sudani’s office said the talks covered “various aspects of the security and military relationship between Iraq and the US, progress made in the fight against terrorism, and follow-up on the joint declaration of September 2024,” stressing commitment to all provisions of the agreement.

On Sept. 27, 2024, Washington and Baghdad agreed to set a 12-month timeline to end the mission of the US-led coalition against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq, with the transition to bilateral security ties to be completed by the end of September 2025.

The two sides pledged to support Iraqi forces and sustain pressure on the terror group under a new framework of cooperation.

Sudani and Cooper emphasized “the importance of continued dialogue on joint security cooperation at the bilateral level, along with broader discussions on developing the partnership,” the statement noted.

The Iraqi premier said the partnership with Washington has “yielded important results that serve the interests of both countries and contributed to enhancing security and stability at the local, regional, and international levels.”

Cooper praised Iraq as “a model of successful cooperation in counterterrorism,” and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to “building on past achievements, advancing security cooperation, and strengthening strategic communication in the period ahead.”

The US currently has around 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq. The coalition, formed in 2014 to combat ISIS, includes several partner nations such as France and Spain.