Iraq to ratify US troop withdrawal with ‘national’ majority, says political advisor to PM

BAGHDAD — Sabhan Mulla Jiyad, political advisor to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, announced that the Iraqi Parliament will ratify the recent agreement with the United States regarding the withdrawal of foreign troops, with approval expected by a “national majority,” not just a Shiite majority.

In an interview with Dijla TV, Jiyad stated that the government had negotiated the agreement’s terms with the authorization of armed factions prior to the ongoing Gaza conflict, and that authorization remains in effect. He added that the withdrawal will shift Iraq’s relationship with the U.S. and other coalition members to a bilateral framework. Separate agreements, including one with France, are also expected to be signed as part of this transition.

Excerpts from Sabhan Mulla Jiyad’s interview with Dijlah TV:

The recent agreement with the United States regarding the withdrawal is certain and reliable. We have prior experience with Washington when it adhered to the 2011 troop withdrawal agreement, which it did not violate. This was replaced by the Strategic Framework Agreement, but circumstances changed, and we needed the U.S. presence again.

The Iraqi government is committed to implementing the entirety of its ministerial program, which includes the withdrawal of foreign forces from the country. This is supported by the State Administration Coalition and many armed factions that have authorised the government to negotiate with the international coalition.

The Iraqi forces are fully prepared to address any security threats, and it is the Iraqi government that assesses its readiness to manage the security file in Iraq. Therefore, it requested the end of the international coalition’s mission. The American side understands this well and recognizes the capabilities of the Iraqi forces. Our experience with them guarantees this.

The armed factions authorised Prime Minister Al-Sudani to remove foreign forces from Iraq even before the war in Gaza began, and this authorization remains in effect. Based on this, the government negotiated, and the results will be presented to Parliament for ratification as an international agreement. Anyone with reservations or objections should voice them in the Parliament.

We want to see the other side of America, as all we’ve seen so far is its military and security side. We seek economic and industrial cooperation with them. Thus, the relationship will shift to a bilateral one, not through the international coalition system. There will also be bilateral agreements with coalition members, and according to my knowledge, a separate agreement will be signed with France.

The tweets by the U.S. ambassador regarding Iraq’s need for foreign forces do not determine our official stance. We deal with official positions from the U.S. administration, not with tweets. The ratification of the agreement will take place in Parliament with a national majority, not just a Shiite majority from the Framework coalition.

The withdrawal of the international coalition from Iraq is unrelated to, and does not affect, the issue of Turkish military presence. This presence is tied to an agreement between the Iraqi and Turkish governments. Although Ankara requested that Baghdad classify the PKK as a terrorist organization, this was rejected as Iraq considers it a “banned” organization, not a terrorist one.