Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani said that his country needs to review the relationship with the international coalition, in light of Iraq not needing foreign combat forces but rather advisory ones. Al-Sudani's statement came in an article published by the French press a day before the start of his visit to Paris.
Al-Sudani added, in an article published - today, Wednesday - by the French newspaper "Le Monde" and the official Iraqi News Agency, that "the need will always remain to review the relationship with the international coalition, and to draw a map for future cooperation, in light of the constant development in the combat capabilities of the forces." Iraqi.
The Iraqi official stated that his country needs foreign advisory forces to meet the needs of the Iraqi forces in terms of training and equipment.
Al-Sudani's article comes days after he expressed his support - in an interview with the American Wall Street Journal - for the survival of American forces in his country, and did not specify a timetable for their withdrawal, stressing their importance in combating the Islamic State.
Visit France
On the occasion of his visit to France tomorrow, Thursday, the Iraqi Prime Minister said that his visit is "a good gesture aimed at laying the right foundations for a sustainable partnership with France," adding that Iraq wishes to consolidate military and security cooperation with France.
Regarding the negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Al-Sudani said that Baghdad will continue its endeavors to bridge the views between the two countries, because "meetings are the only way to reach common ground, and until those understandings reach an advanced stage in the upcoming meetings and meetings," and he said that there are "good examples." on the partnership and economic cooperation between Iraq and France”, including the exploitation of gas associated with oil in Iraqi wells, the development of renewable energy production, and the Baghdad metro project.
Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani stressed his government's intention to "be a major driving force in regional diplomacy and political tracks," and this was clearly demonstrated - the spokesman adds - in the "Baghdad 2 Conference", which was recently held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, with the support of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Twelve Arab and regional countries participated in the "Baghdad 2" conference, which was held last December, most notably Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran and France, in addition to representatives of the European Union, the G20 and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).