NATO to expand training mission in Iraq

EPA/MAURIZIO GAMBARINI
Participants sit in front of the Nato logo during the NATO summit in Newport, South Wales, 04 September 2014. World leaders from about 60 countries are coming together for a two-day NATO summit taking place from 04-05 September 2014.

- Advertisement -

NATO agreed to expand the Western alliance’s training mission in Iraq. The move comes amid United States’ calls do more in the Middle East.
Last month, the alliance suspended training of Iraqi forces amid fears for regional stability after a US drone strike killed Iran’s top commander Qassem Soleimani.
At a meeting in Brussels, defense ministers agreed the alliance will take over some of the training activities carried out by the US-led coalition against the Islamic State.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the Iraq mission would restart “as soon as possible”, adding that the increased NATO presence in the country “would be with the consent of the Iraqi government”. “We will only stay in Iraq as long as we are welcome”, Stoltenberg said.
He added there had been no decision on how many troops would be re-assigned from the U.S.-led coalition. He also did not give further details on the enhanced NATO involvement in the country.
NATO and the coalition have non-combat missions that aim to develop Iraqi security forces. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on the West to do more in the region, and even proposed to the alliance to rename itself NATOME, which means NATO plus the Middle East.

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

Latest

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law...

Trump administration unleashes first sanctions on Iranian shadow fleet

On February 6, the Department of the Treasury unleashed...

Tariff Trouble in Trump Town

President Trump has had many a cartoon about him...

Global reaction to Trump tariffs only reinforces his use of this tired and risky strategy

True to form, U.S. President Donald Trump disrupted global...

Don't miss

EU officially implements landmark AI law

The EU officially implemented its new landmark AI law...

Trump administration unleashes first sanctions on Iranian shadow fleet

On February 6, the Department of the Treasury unleashed...

Tariff Trouble in Trump Town

President Trump has had many a cartoon about him...

Global reaction to Trump tariffs only reinforces his use of this tired and risky strategy

True to form, U.S. President Donald Trump disrupted global...

The New Face of an Old Enemy: The renewed dangers of ISIS and al-Qaeda

A dangerous cocktail of indifference and complacency enabled al-Qaeda...

Donald Trump is inaugurated amidst promises of security, stability and prosperity

After storming a frigid Washington D.C. during his extended inauguration festivities on January 20, Donald J Trump, America’s 47th and 45th President, launched a...

Undeclared “open season” on energy infrastructure in Europe

Russia is claiming it has shot down nine Ukrainian drones that tried to attack the TurkStream pipeline, which carries Russian gas to Europe through...

The European Legion’s Activities in Libya

NATO seems to be seeking to intervene in Libya’s internal affairs and impose its control over the Libyan people’s oil and gas capabilities using...

NATO Summit: “Trump-proofing” Ukraine support while Biden appearances under a microscope

The July 9-11 NATO Summit was originally envisioned as a celebration of the alliance’s 75th anniversary at the organization’s founding venue in Washington D.C.,...

Tackling new threats to critical energy infrastructure

The explosions that targeted the Nord Stream pipelines from Russia to Germany in September 2022 and the suspected sabotage of Baltic-connector pipeline, which supplies...

Wider Middle East regional conflict must be avoided

In a moment of growing tensions in the Middle East, NE Global sat down for an interview about the Iran-Israel crisis with Giuseppe Manna,...

With Sweden now a NATO member, what’s next?

Sweden completed the necessary diplomatic formalities on March 7, depositing its instrument of accession with the U.S. State Department in Washington, which manages the...

Ukraine, Middle East will dominate Cameron’s UK foreign policy agenda

David Cameron, who was made Foreign Secretary in a surprise move by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his cabinet reshuffle on November 13, is...