Iraq, US to begin talks on new bilateral military partnership

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq is preparing to negotiate a new bilateral military partnership with the United States following the end of the international coalition's mission, according to a spokesperson for the Iraqi armed forces. Prime Minister Ali Zeydi is expected to meet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon in the coming days, accompanied by a high-level delegation of ministers, officials, investors and company representatives traveling to Washington. Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces, said in a special statement that Baghdad is seeking a strong partnership with Washington focused on training, arming, intelligence cooperation and the expansion of military capacity. He described the consolidation of weapons under state control as a sovereign decision made without foreign coordination. Al-Numan added that various groups are expected to join the official security institutions as part of the process, which is being overseen by a central committee. No further details on the timeline or scope of the proposed partnership were immediately available.