Iraq, Germany discuss security ties as US-led coalition withdrawal nears
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi held talks with German military commander Gunher Schneider in Baghdad on Monday as Iraq prepares for the final withdrawal of the US-led international coalition from the country.
According to a statement from al-Zaidi’s office, the prime minister received Schneider, commander of German forces deployed overseas, along with an accompanying delegation, Anadolu Agency reported.
The closed-door discussions focused on bilateral security cooperation and the implementation of joint programs aimed at strengthening the capabilities and effectiveness of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
The two sides also discussed preparations for the imminent withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq. Al-Zaidi stressed the importance of transitioning toward “multidimensional relations” with coalition partners as the military mission comes to an end.
The Iraqi prime minister also praised Germany’s longstanding support for Iraq’s fight against terrorism, particularly during the campaign against the Daesh/ISIS terrorist organization.
Earlier this month, al-Zaidi confirmed that the coalition’s mission in Iraq would end on Sept. 30, describing the deadline as “final and irreversible.”
Baghdad and Washington agreed in September 2024 on a two-stage plan to conclude the coalition’s mission after roughly a decade of operations in Iraq.
The first phase, originally scheduled to conclude last September, involved the withdrawal of coalition personnel, the handover of military bases and a transition toward bilateral security partnerships.
The second phase runs through September this year and allows the coalition’s mission in neighboring Syria to continue using an airbase in Erbil, northern Iraq.
The US-led coalition was established in 2014 after Daesh/ISIS seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. Germany, France and Spain are among the countries that have contributed to the coalition.
Iraq declared victory over Daesh/ISIS in December 2017 following years of fighting, but the group has continued to carry out sporadic attacks in parts of the country.
Iraqi security forces continue to conduct operations against suspected Daesh/ISIS cells in northern, western and eastern provinces.
As the coalition withdrawal approaches, Baghdad is increasingly looking to develop longer-term bilateral security relationships with former coalition partners while maintaining its capacity to confront remaining militant threats.