Iraq, US agree to expand security partnership framework

Iraq and the United States have agreed to deepen their security cooperation by establishing a new high-level coordination mechanism, as part of their broader strategic partnership spanning political, economic, and security fields.

The United States Embassy in Baghdad said the decision was made within the framework of longstanding bilateral cooperation, including joint efforts to combat the Islamic State, as per Caliber.Az reports.

According to the embassy, the High Joint Coordination Committee held its first meeting on March 26, 2026. During the session, both sides agreed to intensify cooperation aimed at preventing terrorist attacks and ensuring that Iraqi territory is not used as a launching ground for aggression against the Iraqi population, security forces, and key infrastructure, as well as against US personnel, diplomatic missions, and the global coalition.

"Within the framework of the strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States of America, and over many years of friendship and joint strategic cooperation in the political, economic, and security fields — culminating in joint efforts to defeat ISIS — it was decided to establish a High Joint Coordination Committee.

Yesterday, March 26, 2026, at the first meeting of the High Joint Coordination Committee, the Iraqi and US sides decided to intensify cooperation to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure that Iraqi territory is not used as a launching point for any aggression against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi strategic facilities and assets, as well as against US personnel, diplomatic missions, and the Global Coalition.

Both sides emphasized their commitment to keeping Iraq outside the scope of the ongoing military conflict in the region, fully respecting its sovereignty, and supporting Iraq in ensuring its territory, airspace, and territorial waters cannot be used to threaten Iraq, or neighboring and regional states.

The two sides affirmed their renewed commitment to coordinating counterterrorism efforts in a manner that prioritizes Iraqi action to achieve the shared objectives in a manner that preserves stability and safeguards Iraq’s sovereignty," the statement said.

By Tamilla Hasanova