Intel: US, Iraq to renew talks over troop presence in April

Jared Szuba

Mar 23, 2021

Lt. Col. Jace Neuenschwander signs a document in Mosul — US Army base commander Lt. Col. Jace Neuenschwander (R) signs a document while at a table with Iraqi Ninevah operations commander Maj. Gen. Noman Zawbai (C) and Iraqi Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Fadhel Abbas (L) during a handover ceremony at a base for the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led coalition against the Islamic State, in Mosul during a handover ceremony to Iraqi forces on March 30, 2020. — ZAID AL-OBEIDI/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration will engage in its first round of so-called strategic dialogue with Iraq’s government in April, the White House confirmed Tuesday.

“This will be an important opportunity to discuss our mutual interests across a range of fields from security to culture, trade, and climate,” read a statement from White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

“The meetings will further clarify that coalition forces are in Iraq solely for the purpose of training and advising Iraqi forces to ensure that ISIS cannot reconstitute,” Psaki added. ISIS is an abbreviation for the Islamic State.

Earlier Tuesday, The Associated Press cited three anonymous Iraqi officials as saying their government had reached out to US Ambassador Mathew Tueller with a request to renew the discussions next month.

Intel: US, Iraq to renew talks over troop presence in April

The Biden White House accepted Baghdad's request to kickstart strategic dialogue

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