US, Iraq look to continue strategic dialogue in Washington next month
Following an initial round of talks in Baghdad, Iraq and the United States have agreed to maintain and expand cooperation in various realms.
Following the first strategic dialogue session between Iraq and the United States in Baghdad on June 11, the two delegations issued a joint statement reflecting the decisions reached in the first round of talks.
The statement reaffirmed the Strategic Framework Agreement signed in 2008, as well as other documents between the two countries, in particular two letters from Iraq to the UN Security Council in June and September 2014 calling on the international community to provide Iraq support in its fight against terrorist groups.
Politically, Washington reaffirmed respect for “Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and relevant decisions of the Iraqi legislative and executive authorities.” The United States also expressed support for the new Iraqi government and its reform plan and its commitment to organize early elections. Humanitarian issues — including respecting human rights and “the return and reintegration of displaced people” — were also highlighted.
As a political crisis has been plaguing Iraq in recent months, Iraqi political forces — even pro-Iran groups — have been sending positive signals toward the United States, calling for help to overcome the predicament. Speaking after parliament approved new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi in May, the head of the Popular Mobilization Units' (PMU) Fatah parliamentary bloc, Muhammad al-Ghabban, said, “Washington should demonstrate its interest in Iraq by giving priority to supporting Iraq at this critical stage, and assure the Iraqi people of its seriousness in providing assistance to them, and not siding with any Iraqi political party against another.”
