High-Level Negotiations Between the U.S. and Iraq; Pentagon Focuses on Advancing 'Sustainable Security Partnership'

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Thursday that a council composed of U.S. and Iraqi officials will begin high-level negotiations in the coming days to advance the two countries' shared goal of establishing a sustainable security partnership. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon stated that this council aims to fulfill 'joint commitments regarding regional security and Iraq's sovereignty' and continues the dialogue on security cooperation between the two countries that took place last year in Washington. According to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, 'previous negotiations were aimed at setting a timeline for the mission of U.S.-led forces and joint operational forces to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.' In his statement at the council's inception, he said, 'The United States and Iraq have had a broad and constructive partnership on security issues over the past 10 years since the Iraqi government invited the U.S. and the coalition to fight ISIS.' Lloyd Austin also added that these discussions reflect the dynamic relationship between the U.S. and Iraq within the framework of the 2008 strategic agreement between the two countries and emphasize our commitment to expanding security cooperation and advancing stability in Iraq and the region. The U.S. Secretary of Defense also clarified that 'upcoming negotiations will be conducted with a shared commitment to determine the most effective plan for the mission to defeat ISIS while ensuring that ISIS can never rise again.' Earlier on Thursday, Iraq announced the agreement between Washington and Baghdad to form a committee to begin discussions about the future presence of the U.S.-led international coalition in Iraq. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated that the purpose of forming this committee is to establish a timeline for the gradual withdrawal of troops and the end of the coalition's mission in the country.