Iraqi PM al-Zaydi discusses military cooperation with Russian and German delegations

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi met on Monday with Dmitry Shugayev, head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, in the presence of the Russian ambassador to Baghdad, the prime minister's office said. According to the statement, the two officials reviewed ways to expand military cooperation between Iraq and Russia through the implementation of existing agreements and memoranda of understanding. Al-Zaydi emphasized Iraq's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Moscow across all fields, while Shugayev reaffirmed Russia's readiness to maintain joint coordination in counterterrorism efforts and regional security, the statement said. In a separate meeting, al-Zaydi also held talks with Günter Schneider, commander of German forces deployed abroad, focusing on expanding military and security cooperation through joint programs. The two discussed preparations for the withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq and the importance of transitioning toward broader relations with coalition countries. The statement noted Germany's continued support to Iraq, particularly during the campaign against ISIS. No further details on specific agreements were immediately available.