Iraq, US to set combat troop withdrawal timeline during upcoming talks: foreign minister

22-07-2021
Layal Shakir
Layal Shakir
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq and the United States will set a timetable for the withdrawal of US combat troops during their fourth round of talks, Iraq’s minister of foreign affairs told Rudaw late Wednesday.

Fuad Hussein said the talks would discuss bilateral relations in all fields including security.

“A timetable will be set for the case of withdrawal,” the minister told Rudaw’s Roj Zalla after arriving in Washington DC ahead of the talks. “The withdrawal of US combat troops and how they can go back.” 

President Joe Biden will host Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at the White House on Monday.  

Representatives from the Kurdistan Region will also attend the meeting, according to Hussein.

“The upcoming #US - #Iraq dialogue on 21-26 July 2021 is very critical for the stability of Iraq and the entire region,” tweeted Hoshyar Zebari, politburo member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and former Iraqi foreign minister. 

“Any #American precipitous pull out before defeating #ISIS terrorists and ensuring a viable Iraqi security force is disastrous. Iraqi negotiators need to be brave,” he added. 

Kadhimi’s visit is part of the Strategic Framework Agreement, which guides US-Iraqi relations in all fields, including security. In their latest round of strategic dialogue in April, the US agreed to remove all combat troops out of Iraq. 

“The current US administration understands the situation in Iraq in a way that contradicts the previous administration,” state media quoted Hussein as saying, referring to the administration of Donald Trump. 

There are currently 2,500 American soldiers in Iraq, part of the fight against the Islamic State group (ISIS).
 

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