April 16 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, and the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohamed Shia al Sudani, met this Monday at the White House to discuss numerous bilateral issues, including the end of the international coalition against the Islamic State terrorist group. in the country, which will leave the territory at the request of Baghdad due to Washington's bombings against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
The two leaders have pledged to closely follow the process between the Iraqi Supreme Military Committee and that of the coalition, which are evaluating the security situation, the current threat from the Islamic State and the ability of the Iraqi security forces to do so. front, according to a statement from the White House.
Based on this process, both will jointly decide how and when the coalition will end, which must occur in an “orderly” manner and based on both the Iraqi Constitution and the cooperation agreement with the United States.
Biden has expressed that a “strong” Iraq “capable of self-defense” is “vital” for regional security and to ensure that there is no resurgence of the jihadist group. Afterwards, they paid tribute to those killed at the hands of terrorists.
Both leaders will collaborate so that security in Iraq leads to an increase in cooperation to lead the country to greater integration into the regional and global economic system, and that this brings “prosperity to the Iraqi people.”
In that sense, Biden has applauded Iraq's progress towards energy sufficiency, which is why he will continue to support its efforts to modernize the sector to achieve the reduction of methane emissions, improve public health and complete electrical grid connections with countries. neighbors.
Al Sudani, for his part, has stressed the importance of ensuring that Iraqi oil reaches international markets, showing his “desire” to reopen the Turkish-Iraqi gas pipeline.
That is why they have shown their vision for the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, which must be “an integral part of the prosperity and stability” of Iraq.
Based on this, Biden has highlighted the Government's efforts to resolve differences with the Kurdish-Iraqi authorities, especially due to the recent agreement to pay two months of salaries to civil servants in the semi-autonomous region.
