Iraqi Prime Minister to Discuss US Troop Withdrawal with Biden

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, has announced plans to discuss the presence of US military forces in the Arab Republic during a meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington on July 26, as reported by Armenpress.

“I will travel to Washington to discuss the level of US-Iraq relations, particularly the issue of the presence of the US in Iraq and the process of their withdrawal from our country,” he said in an interview with Al Hadath TV, published on the evening of July 18.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister has praised the role of the United States in Iraq, stating that the US authorities have assisted Baghdad “not only from a military perspective but also in educational, cultural, economic, and other areas.” He added that US assistance is also crucial for the future preparation of the country’s army.

Earlier, the Biden administration announced that a meeting between the US President and the Iraqi Prime Minister would take place at the White House on July 26. On January 5, 2020, the Iraqi parliament passed a resolution for the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country.

In mid-March of this year, Iraqi President Barham Salih clarified that the number of American troops in the Arab Republic does not exceed 2,500. In April, al-Kadhimi announced that improvements in the combat readiness of the national army and security forces, as well as successes against terrorists, allow for the withdrawal of foreign troop numbers by up to 60 percent, TASS reported.