Trump, Kadhimi discuss new phase in US-Iraq strategic relationship
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's visit to Washington led to new energy deals and continued security cooperation.
“We very much feel that if Iran should do anything, we will be there to help the Iraqi people,” US President Donald Trump told Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in their Aug. 20 meeting in Washington.
They not only refrained from setting a schedule for withdrawing US troops from Iraq, but affirmed the need for a continued US presence in Iraq.
“We definitely don’t need combat troops in Iraq, but we do need training and capacity enhancement and security cooperation,” said Kadhimi.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also urged Iraqi officials during his Aug. 19 meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to increase efforts to contain pro-Iran militias in Iraq.
