Kerry's Visit to Baghdad; US to Provide Additional $155 Million Aid to Iraq

On Friday, April 20, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited Baghdad, where he expressed support for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's efforts to resolve the country's political crisis and announced an additional $155 million in aid to Iraq. Kerry's visit was unannounced and marks his first trip to Iraq in two years. The Associated Press reported that during this trip, he met with not only the Prime Minister but also the Foreign Minister and the Sunni Speaker of Parliament, as well as a Kurdish leader. The aim of these meetings is to demonstrate U.S. support for the Iraqi government in the face of the country's security, economic, and political challenges. Kerry described the Prime Minister's plans to change cabinet members as an internal matter but emphasized that all factions in Iraq must set aside their differences for the country's progress. In a press conference, he stated, "Stability is very important. An effective and united government must be formed as soon as possible to avoid negatively impacting the important programs that Iraq needs." Kerry's visit coincided with advances made by the Iraqi army, which reported on Thursday that it had recaptured the strategic city of Hit from the Islamic State group. Concurrently, the U.S. Department of Defense announced plans to deploy small units of U.S. troops to support the Iraqi army in retaking Mosul by guiding artillery and providing other support. Last month, one of these small U.S. outposts was established for the first time. The Associated Press noted that Abadi is trying to form a new government amid pressures from supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, a radical Shia cleric who has called for reforms through numerous protests. A deadlock in this area could undermine the Prime Minister's efforts to resolve factional and sectarian disputes. Kerry emphasized U.S. neutrality, stating, "We do not interfere in these matters," while also expressing confidence that Abadi is focused on forming an effective government. He praised the Prime Minister for demonstrating leadership abilities, especially in today's difficult conditions. The Associated Press reports that, influenced by falling oil prices, Iraq's government revenues have sharply decreased, and issues of financial and administrative corruption have become central to disputes among factions. Last month, Abadi proposed a series of reforms to combat financial corruption, reduce government spending, and merge ministries. However, due to tensions and power struggles within the government and the ongoing battle with the Islamic State group, none of these proposals have yet been approved. The report adds that Kerry indicated that the fight against the Islamic State group, although slow, is progressing toward victory. He stated, "The life of the ISIS group will soon come to an end. We will win this war, and evidence on the battlefield shows that we are moving toward victory." Although the Islamic State group has lost some of its controlled areas in recent months, it still retains a wide range of territory in Iraq and Syria, including major cities like Mosul and Raqqa. The group continues to attract individuals willing to "jihad" from Muslim countries and Western nations, and some experts believe that the longer this group persists, the greater the likelihood of similar jihadist groups forming in other parts of the region. Perhaps for these reasons, the U.S. Secretary of State emphasized that important actions are still needed to defeat the Islamic State group. Regarding the Mosul operation, he stated that the Iraqi army is still preparing for this operation. However, Kerry did not provide a specific timeline for the start of the assault. He also stressed that the U.S. will not send more troops to the region, stating, "The Prime Minister of Iraq has not requested additional troops, and we have not discussed this matter." Currently, about 3,800 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Iraq, although this number fluctuates. The new financial aid that the U.S. will provide to Iraq amounts to $155 million and will be allocated to meet the needs of people who have been displaced within the country or forced to flee. Over the past two and a half years, more than 3.4 million people in Iraq have been displaced from their homes. U.S. humanitarian aid to Iraq during this period has totaled approximately $780 million.