Baghdad – INA
The spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah Al-Numan, said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington marks a strategic turning point in relations between Iraq and the United States. He noted that a new security cooperation framework will be established for the post-international coalition mission phase, while stressing that the decision to restrict weapons to state control enjoys overwhelming public support and full compliance with the directives of the Supreme Religious Authority.
Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Numan said that “the visit of the high-level Iraqi government delegation to the U.S. capital, Washington, led by Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, represents a historic and strategic milestone that will shape the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. The visit aims to advance ties toward new horizons of sustainable and balanced partnership that respects the national sovereignty of both sides.”
He added that “the ongoing negotiations in Washington and at the U.S. Department of Defense are built upon a solid security foundation established through the courageous sacrifices and remarkable field achievements of Iraq’s armed forces. This provides the Iraqi negotiating delegation with a clear vision and a firm position to establish a new security cooperation framework for the period following the conclusion of the International Coalition’s mission. The framework will focus on enhancing military and technical capabilities, advancing training programs, and expanding intelligence cooperation to ensure the continued readiness of Iraqi forces and their ability to confront future challenges.”
Regarding the decision to restrict weapons to state control, Al-Numan stressed that “limiting arms to the hands of the state is a sovereign Iraqi decision that enjoys overwhelming public support and full adherence to the directives of the Supreme Religious Authority.” He affirmed that “this issue remains among the foremost priorities and commitments undertaken by Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi to strengthen the foundations of a state governed by the rule of law and robust constitutional institutions.”
Al-Numan further noted that “the comprehensive security stability achieved across the country through the government’s systematic approach has become a solid foundation and a sovereign safeguard for attracting major international investors and global companies.” He added that “this development is directly contributing to shifting Iraq’s dialogue with the international community from crisis management and emergency issues toward comprehensive development and a sustainable strategic partnership that preserves Iraq’s full sovereignty while promoting prosperity and well-being for its people.”
