Today, Friday, the US-Iraqi strategic dialogue sessions began in Washington to discuss the file of the US military presence in Iraq.
During his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Fouad Hussein, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
He said that Washington is moving forward in its partnership with Iraq on the basis of mutual respect and common interests.
Blinken pointed out that the partnership with Baghdad is much greater than the war on ISIS.
For his part, the Iraqi Foreign Minister said that the Iraqi forces still need training and armament programs provided by the United States.
He added that his country still needs the international coalition and work with it, in addition to exchanging information in the face of ISIS, and also needs international action to confront the organization.
Hussein indicated that his country was able to defeat ISIS thanks to Iraqi efforts and the support of the international coalition, but the organization is still present militarily in Iraq.
The minister expressed his hope that the results of the US-Iraqi strategic dialogue will be in the interest of the two countries.
Neither minister has stated clearly about the future of US forces in Iraq, especially after US media published that an imminent joint statement between Washington and Baghdad would be issued providing for the withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq by the end of this year.
On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal quoted US and Iraqi officials that an imminent statement would be issued to withdraw US combat forces from Iraq by the end of this year.
The officials indicated that the US presence in Iraq will focus on assisting government forces.
The newspaper pointed out that the joint statement will emphasize the importance of the American presence in the fight against ISIS.
In a related context, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said yesterday, Thursday, that his country's forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the Baghdad government, and that this issue will be raised Friday in the fourth round of the strategic dialogue between the two countries.
In a related context, the US Politico website quoted US sources as saying that Washington and Baghdad will announce the transfer of the US forces' mission in Iraq to a consultancy at the end of the year.
The same sources indicated that ending the combat mission of the US forces will not include their withdrawal from Iraq, and that the plan includes the survival of a specific number of soldiers to provide logistical and advisory support.