US pledges to reduce Iraq troops in coming months

WASHINGTON: The United States said it would reduce troops in Iraq in the coming months as tension between the two countries eased under a new US-friendly prime minister in Baghdad.

The US also promised support to prop up the struggling Iraqi economy as the two nations held their first strategic dialogue in more than a decade.

Tensions increased following a US strike in January that killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Many lawmakers demanded the expulsion of the roughly 5,200 US troops in the country.

In a joint statement, the United States said it had made headway in said for its military’s return to Iraq in 2014 to defeat the Islamic State group,

“The two countries recognized that in light of significant progress towards eliminating the ISIS threat, over the coming months the US would continue reducing forces from Iraq,” a joint statement said. “The United States reiterated that it does not seek nor request permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq.”

The coalition has already been reduced to just three bases in recent months, down from a dozen. The joint statement did not give figures with David Schenker, the top US diplomat for the Middle East, saying the delegations did not discuss a timeline for reducing troops.

Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, top-level talks expected to take place in Baghdad were reduced to a brief online session.

Tensions have calmed substantially since Mustafa Kadhemi took the reins as Iraq’s premier in May. He has been invited to the White House this year unlike his predecessor Adel Abdel Mahdi.

The United States said it would look to encourage investment and promote economic reform in Iraq. The Iraqi economy relies on oil exports but faltering prices and low demand have drastically shrunk the government’s ability to pay wages, pensions and welfare.

After Kadhemi took charge, the United States extended a waiver from sanctions to let Iraq keep importing needed gas from Iran.