WASHINGTON — Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani defended the open-ended presence of US and different overseas troops in his nation, in an interview printed Sunday.
“We think that we need the foreign forces,” Sudani instructed The Wall Street Journal in his first US interview since taking workplace in October.
US and NATO forces have been coaching Iraqi troopers on methods to battle the Islamic State group.
“Elimination of ISIS needs some more time,” Sudani added.
His feedback are important as a result of the events that again him and management parliament are aligned with pro-Iranian factions and really hostile to the United States. Iraq additionally is determined by Iran for pure fuel and electrical energy.
The United States has about 2,000 troops stationed in Iraq to coach and advise Iraqi forces. NATO has a number of hundred troops there, additionally in a non-combat function.
Sudani mentioned Iraq desires to have good relations with each the United States and Iran.
“We strive for that,” he mentioned. “I don’t see this as an impossible matter, to see Iraq have a good relationship with Iran and the US.”
Sudani additionally faces a populace hit onerous by an financial disaster and anticipating a greater life.
His go to to Tehran in late November was marked by guarantees of stronger cooperation on financial and safety issues.
In the interview printed Sunday, Sudani made clear he desires to get together with the United States, which is locked in confrontation with Iran.
He mentioned he want to ship a high-level delegation to Washington quickly, maybe as a prelude to assembly with President Joe Biden. — Agence France-Presse
