Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia Al Sudani defended the continued presence of American troops in his country in an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published on Sunday.
SUDANI’S REMARKS
Sudani said Iraq needs foreign forces to help eliminate ISIS as the fight against the terrorist group will take “some more time.” While he did not put a time limit on the presence of foreign troops, Sudani said Iraq would like to mould its relations with Washington akin to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
While Washington has close military ties with its allies in the Gulf, Sudani said these countries have a more independent defence policy. “We strive for that,” he told the WSJ.
We interviewed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Sudani in the Green Zone’s presidential palace, a place I hadn’t been in since it was occupied by hundreds of American troops and diplomats. More genial than many Iraqi officials, he talked for nearly an hour… https://t.co/BIoW6cZpQC
— David Cloud (@DavidSCloud) January 15, 2023
He further stressed that Iraq wants good relations with the US and its neighbour Iran. Washington and Tehran have long been at odds over several issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
THE US’ POSITION
The WSJ quoted the US State Department as saying that Washington wants to see “a strong, stable, and sovereign Iraqi state.” It called Iraq a “vital partner.”
Following its invasion of Iraq in 2003 to oust dictator Saddam Hussein, the US deployed troops to the country for eight years and only pulled out in 2011. However, following ISIS’ assault on Iraq in 2014, the US and its allies formed the ‘Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS’ — an 85-nation group that assisted Iraqi security forces in defeating ISIS.
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According to top US military officials, the coalition has been crucial in eliminating ISIS’ direct threat to the Iraqi government and continuing counter-terrorism operations to prevent the group’s resurgence.
IRAQ’S OPPOSITION TO US PRESENCE
Sudani’s remarks contradict the position of several top Iraqi politicians, including former PM Mustafa Al Kadhimi, and Iran-backed political parties and militias.
Kadhimi has been opposed to the presence of US-led troops in Iraq, fearing it could lead to violence from Iran-backed groups. In 2021, the former PM said that while he is not against US training and support for the Iraqi military to fight ISIS, he is opposed to the physical presence of US troops in the country.
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Moreover, top Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada Al Sadr’s political party won last year’s general election after he campaigned aggressively against the presence of foreign troops.
Pro-Iranian parties and militia groups have also opposed US troop presence and launched rockets and drones at US military bases in the country.