Austin Meets With Iraqi Counterpart After Security Cooperation Dialogue

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III today underscored the United States' commitment to Iraq's continued sovereignty and security during a meeting with Iraqi Defense Minister Muhammad al-Abbasi at the Pentagon.

The secretary noted the strong U.S.-Iraqi ties built on years of partnership.

"Our bond is especially important as we mark the 10th year of the global coalition to defeat Daesh, and I'm proud to have been a part of that fight," Austin said, referring to the militant group also known as ISIS.

"I'm grateful for the courage of the Iraqi security forces," he said. "Fighting together with coalition forces they achieved a territorial defeat of Daesh."

The Defense Department established the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve in October 2014 to formalize military actions against the threats posed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria

Today's meeting capped the two-day Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue this week focused on how the mission of the global coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq would end and transition to an enduring bilateral security relationship between the U.S. and Iraq.

The exchange builds upon the work of the Higher Military Commission, which grew out of the inaugural JCSD in 2023 and reinforced the meeting earlier this year between President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Washington.

Participants in this week's talks included U.S. Central Command, the Joint Staff, the State Department, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and the National Security Council. The Iraqi delegation included representatives from Iraq's Ministry of Defense and armed forces, the Counterterrorism Service, and the Kurdish peshmerga.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major Gen. Pat Ryder said yesterday that the joint participants in this week's dialogue would consider the recommendations from the Higher Military Commission, which looked at the state of ISIS capabilities and the capacity and capabilities of Iraq's security forces to address the threat.

Ryder added that the dialogue would continue "looking toward the future of the coalition, but then also the bilateral security cooperation between the U.S. and Iraq."

While meeting with his counterpart today, Austin commended the Iraqi and U.S. governments for their combined efforts to "shaping the parameters to make the transition of Operation Inherent Resolve into enduring security partnerships among Iraq, the United States and other coalition countries."

"The threat from Daesh and it's ideology has evolved over the past decade," Austin said. "Yet, Daesh continues to plot attacks ... from the region and through its global affiliates. So, we must adapt the mission of Inherent Resolve to meet this changing threat."

The secretary said the U.S. also continues to work to strengthen its bilateral security relationship with Iraq as the coalition transitions.

"We remain deeply committed to ... Iraq's sovereignty, security and stability," Austin said.