The future of U.S. security cooperation with Iraq is being discussed by the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission (HMC), with plans to transition from the global coalition for the enduring defeat of ISIS to a longer-term U.S.-Iraqi bilateral security relationship. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder emphasized the importance of Iraq as a partner in the region, particularly in terms of security and stability, and highlighted the need for the HMC to have conversations on the matter. The HMC, established during the August 2023 U.S.-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue, is working on planning how the existing security relationship between the two nations will transition in the future.
Discussions within the HMC are expected to shape the role of U.S. forces in Iraq and the defeat-ISIS mission. Factors such as the current threat from ISIS, operational and environmental requirements, and the capability levels of Iraqi security forces will be considered in determining how the U.S. role in the mission will change. The U.S. currently has about 2,500 military personnel in Iraq as part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve effort, working to advise, assist, and enable partner forces in defeating ISIS in designated areas of Iraq and Syria.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is actively involved in discussions concerning U.S. force posture, with HMC outcomes playing a crucial role in informing decisions by U.S. and Iraqi political leadership. Ryder emphasized the importance of the work being done through the HMC process, noting that these conversations ultimately inform senior leader decisions that rest with the president and Iraqi leadership. The HMC will continue to meet and discuss the future of U.S. security cooperation with Iraq, shaping the ongoing relationship between the two nations.
The U.S. and Iraq have agreed to convene the HMC to plan the transition of the global coalition into a long-term U.S.-Iraq bilateral security cooperation relationship. The ongoing discussions within the HMC will play a significant role in determining the role of U.S. forces in Iraq and the defeat-ISIS mission. With the support of Secretary of Defense Austin and the involvement of both U.S. and Iraqi political leadership, the HMC will continue to work towards shaping the future of U.S. security cooperation with Iraq.
