The United States and Iraq have agreed that all US troops will withdraw from Iraq by September 30, according to a joint announcement made following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and newly appointed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House on Tuesday (July 14).
Following the high-level talks in the Oval Office, both sides said the withdrawal of US forces stationed in Iraq would be completed within the agreed timeframe, describing the move as the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, President Trump said Washington no longer sees a need to maintain a military presence in Iraq. He added that the time has come to shift the focus from military engagement to economic cooperation and investment.
At the height of the international campaign against the Islamic State (IS), about 2,500 US troops were deployed in Iraq. Their numbers have been gradually reduced in recent months. The remaining personnel have primarily been stationed in Erbil in the Kurdistan Region, at a base near Baghdad International Airport, and within Baghdad’s Green Zone.
Prime Minister Al-Zaidi said that after the withdrawal of US forces, no armed group outside state control would be permitted to carry weapons. He stated that from September 30 onward, only Iraq’s official security forces would be authorized to bear arms. He also emphasized expanding US trade and investment as a replacement for the American military presence.
President Trump praised the Iraqi prime minister, describing him as a “champion,” and said both countries are committed to elevating their economic partnership.
One of Al-Zaidi’s key objectives during his visit to Washington was to attract US investment in Iraq’s energy, natural gas and electricity sectors. He expressed optimism about building a new framework for bilateral economic cooperation.
Trump also highlighted Iraq’s vast oil resources, saying the two countries are moving toward major investment and commercial agreements that would create jobs and deepen cooperation in the energy sector.
According to Iraqi officials, as part of this initiative, the Iraqi government is expected to sign a major investment agreement on Friday with US-based Chevron, TI Capital and Qatar’s UCC. The project includes the construction of an oil pipeline capable of transporting around 2 million barrels of crude oil per day from Basra to Haditha, with plans to extend the pipeline to ports in Turkey and Syria.
Source: Deutsche Welle (DW)