• 10 months ago
The United States and Iraq are poised to embark on talks to bring an end to the US-led international military coalition in Iraq. The discussions will reportedly pave the way for a shift towards bilateral relations between the two nations.

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Transcript
00:00 The United States and Iraq are set to embark on talks to bring an end to the US-led international
00:15 military coalition in Iraq.
00:18 The discussions will reportedly pave the way for a shift towards bilateral relations between
00:22 the two nations.
00:24 The significant development comes after a period of stalled negotiations due to the
00:28 conflict in Gaza.
00:30 Four reliable sources confirmed that talks are set to commence with the US conveying
00:35 its intentions through a letter handed over by US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanovsky
00:40 to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on Wednesday.
00:44 In a noteworthy move, the US has dropped preconditions that previously demanded attacks by Iran-backed
00:50 Iraqi militant groups cease before negotiations could begin.
00:54 The Iraqi Foreign Ministry acknowledged the receipt of an important letter stating that
00:58 the Prime Minister would carefully study its contents.
01:01 The talks are anticipated to unfold over several months, with the outcome remaining uncertain.
01:06 There is no immediate prospect of US troop withdrawal as the United States currently
01:10 maintains 2,500 troops in Iraq.
01:13 Their role is to advise and assist local forces primarily focused on preventing a resurgence
01:18 of the Islamic State.
01:20 The US-led coalition, which also includes troops from various European countries, was
01:24 initially established to combat the Islamic State's threat.
01:27 However, the mission's presence in Iraq has faced growing pressure, particularly amid
01:32 escalating tensions between militias and US forces.
01:35 Indeed, Iraq, a unique ally of both Tehran and Washington, has witnessed a series of
01:41 tit-for-tat attacks between militias and US forces since the onset of the Gaza War.
01:46 These militias seek to exert pressure on the US, primarily due to its support for Israel.
01:51 The situation has prompted Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to call for the swift
01:56 exit of the US-led coalition forces through negotiations.
02:00 This process was initiated last year but was subsequently halted by the conflict in Gaza.
02:05 Washington had been reluctant to engage in talks about a potential withdrawal while under
02:08 fire, fearing it would be perceived as a coerced decision.
02:12 However, recent events have led to a change in strategy as the realisation dawned that
02:17 the attacks were unlikely to cease and the status quo was fostering a steady escalation
02:21 of tensions.
02:22 So, what can we expect from these upcoming talks?
02:26 According to a US official, the discussions will likely revolve around the Higher Military
02:30 Commission dialogue announced back in August.
02:34 This commission aims to facilitate a joint evaluation of the Iraqi security forces'
02:38 capacity to combat the Islamic State and shape the nature of the bilateral security relationship.
02:44 And what about the recent attacks?
02:46 The official clarified that the timing of the talks is not directly related to these
02:49 recent attacks.
02:50 Nevertheless, the UN will maintain the full right of self-defence during the negotiations.
03:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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