NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the strong partnership during his Baghdad visit, highlighting mission success since 2018. He met with Iraqi officials to discuss NATO’s evolving role in enhancing security, sovereignty respect, and countering terrorism, particularly ISIS. Rutte acknowledged the cooperation in various fields and referenced the ongoing support for Iraq’s stability efforts.
During his recent two-day visit to Baghdad, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the alliance’s robust partnership with Iraq by meeting with key officials to assess progress on regional security and NATO’s mission in the country. Accompanied by U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli, Rutte commended the mission’s achievements since its inception in 2018, as reported by News.Az.
Rutte expressed his appreciation for the strong cooperation between NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) and Iraqi partners across various domains such as security education, logistics, cyber defense, and governance. He stated, “I congratulate our Iraqi partners and NMI’s leadership and personnel for the excellent level of cooperation developed.”
He underlined that NATO’s engagements in Iraq respect the nation’s sovereignty and aim to fortify its security forces and institutional capabilities. The mission was initiated following Iraq’s appeal for assistance in combating terrorism, particularly in countering the ISIS threat.
Highlighting the progress made, Rutte commented, “Together we have achieved a lot through our NATO-Iraq partnership.” He outlined that the scope of NATO’s activities continues to evolve in response to requests from Iraqi authorities, aligned with Iraq’s aspirations for long-term security and stability for all its citizens.
During his discussions, Rutte conferred with high-profile Iraqi officials including President Abdul Latif Rashid and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. The NMI was officially launched by NATO leaders at a summit in Brussels in July 2018 and was subsequently established in Baghdad in October of the same year, currently led by Lt. Gen. Lucas Schreurs from the Netherlands.
The NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) was established as a response to Iraq’s request for assistance in bolstering its security capabilities against terrorist threats, notably from ISIS. NATO’s involvement focuses on providing training, logistics, and strategic support to enhance Iraq’s military and governance structures. This partnership aligns with the broader objectives of stabilizing the region and ensuring enduring peace and security for Iraq and its citizens.
The visit by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte underscores the significance of the partnership between NATO and Iraq, reflecting on the successful collaboration that has strengthened Iraq’s security forces since 2018. This mission, based on mutual respect for sovereignty, emphasizes NATO’s ongoing commitment to supporting Iraq’s stability and security objectives in the face of terrorism.
Original Source: news.az
