A summit is being held today, Monday, in Washington, gathering U.S. President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. The discussions will cover several topics, chief among them the future of the U.S. military presence in Iraq.
Ahead of the summit, Iraqis are watching the outcomes of the talks with great caution due to potential implications for the future of U.S. military presence in their country. In his second visit to Washington since he took office, Al-Kadhimi will discuss various issues with President Biden, primarily focusing on the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq.
The idea of a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq is contentious; the Kurds express reservations, while Shiite factions are divided on the matter. Before heading to Washington, Al-Kadhimi stated in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press that Iraq no longer needs foreign combat troops, including American forces. However, he emphasized that his country will continue to request training and military intelligence from the United States, without specifying a final timeline for the departure of U.S. troops. He added that any withdrawal schedule will depend on the needs of Iraqi forces and the negotiations he will conduct in Washington.
According to analysts, during his visit to Washington for the fourth round of strategic talks between the two countries, Al-Kadhimi is seeking American assistance to alleviate pressure from Iran-aligned militias demanding the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces. In April, Iraq and the United States agreed to transition U.S. forces to training and advisory missions, but they did not reach a timeline for completing this transition.
Regardless of the designation or title of the U.S. forces remaining in Iraq, what many in Iraq are most eager to hear is clarification on the timeline for the complete withdrawal of these forces.
