Defeat-ISIS Ministers Confirm Transition to Bilateral Security Ties
Their final communique confirmed what U.S. officials have repeatedly said: the Coalition’s mission in most of Iraq will end later this year, but it does not mean the end of the presence of foreign troops, including U.S. troops, in Iraq.
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) The Foreign Ministers of the Defeat-ISIS (D-ISIS) Coalition met Monday in Washington DC, in a conference hosted by the U.S. State Department.
Shift in Security Ties from Multilateral to Bilateral Basis
Their final communique confirmed what U.S. officials have repeatedly said. Although the Coalition’s mission in most of Iraq will end later this year, it does not mean the end of the presence of foreign troops, including U.S. troops, in Iraq.
Rather, the end of the Coalition means that security ties between Baghdad and members of the Coalition will shift to a bilateral, rather than multilateral, basis.
Indeed, that message was affirmed by U.S. officials most recently on Friday in a briefing entitled, “Transition Plan for Combined Joint Task Force—Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.” The briefing was dedicated to conveying that message.
Read More: US Officials: ‘United States is not Withdrawing from Iraq’
No Deadline for Coalition Presence in Erbil?
Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the Foreign Ministers as the conference began. His remarks raised the possibility that no deadline has been set for the end of the Coalition missionin the Kurdistan Region.
If so, that would certainly be welcomed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG.) When the long-time Kurdish leader, Masoud Barzani, now head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), visited Baghdad in July, he met with the U.S. ambassador, Alina Romanowski.
Barzani advised Romanowski that the continued presence of Coalition forces is a national issue transcending party lines, stressing that it was important for Iraq's stability and national interests.
Read More: KDP President Masoud Barzani meets with US Ambassador to Iraq
The Coalition forces that are fighting ISIS in Syria are supplied from the Kurdistan Region. In the briefing on Friday, a senior administration official explained, “The U.S. and Iraq recognize that ISIS in Syria remains a significant threat to the region and are committed to continue working to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.”
Thus, as he explained, the Coalition would remain in Erbil “until at least September 2026, subject to conditions on the ground and, obviously, consultations among future political leaders of Iraq, the United States, and Coalition members.”
In addressing the D-ISIS Conference on Monday, Blinken said, as had been stated in Friday’s briefing, that the Coalition mission “will conclude in Iraq in September 2025.”
Yet on Friday, the senior administration official had also said that the Coalition presence in Erbil would last a year longer—“until at least September 2026, subject to conditions on the ground and, obviously, consultations among future political leaders of Iraq, the United States, and Coalition members.”
However, on Monday, Blinken said something a bit different: “the United States will also maintain our counterterrorism efforts from outside of Iraq—including in Syria for as long as needed.”
Does that mean the Coalition will remain in Erbil for “as long as needed”? There is no deadline for its departure?
The State Department did not respond immediately to Kurdistan 24’s request for clarification.
U.S. Secretary of State and Iraqi Foreign Minister
Finally, in the context of the Ministerial conference, Blinken met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dr. Fuad Hussein.
They “reaffirmed” their “shared vision to building an enduring partnership between the United States and Iraq in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement, including a comprehensive security relationship that supports a stable, secure, and sovereign Iraq.”
Hussein, in his own remarks to the conference, underscored the importance of international cooperation to defeat ISIS, while he also called for restraint in the face of the region’s multiple conflicts, lest protracted fighting lead to chaos, creating an environment for terrorist organizations like ISIS to exploit.
Read More: Iraqi FM urges caution: ‘Iraq must avoid entanglement in the conflicts’
In addition, the KRG has articulated a similar position, calling for calm, restraint, and de-escalation.
Read More: Kurdistan Region's Presidency expresses concern over Middle East escalation, calls for restraint
Blinken’s Overview of Fight Against ISIS
Blinken began his remarks by recalling the history of the fight against ISIS—although he omitted a point that is particularly embarrassing to the Obama administration.
“Ten years ago,” Blinken said, “the United States mobilized a global coalition to fight ISIS”—leaving out that it was just three years after Obama’s premature and unnecessary withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.
“Over the following decade,” Blinken stated, the Coalition "grew from 12 to 87 countries.” In 2017, it “dismantled the last ISIS stronghold in Iraq,” and “two years later,” it “did the same in Syria.”
But the job is not finished, he stressed. “ISIS aims to reconstitute itself in the Middle East” and is making “territorial gains in Asia and Africa.”
Alluding to the conflicts between Israel and Hamas and Hizbollah, along with Iran, Blinken emphasized, as Fuad Hussein did, “This is a moment of enormous volatility in the Middle East.”
“It’s more important than ever that we enhance our efforts to strengthen security and stability, including in Iraq and Syria, and prevent extremists like ISIS from exploiting conflicts in the region for their own benefit,” he said.
Blinken stressed the need to repatriate foreign fighters and their families from the detention facilities maintained by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria.
They contain some 43,000 people, including 9,00 fighters. Iraq has repatriated over 10,400 of its citizens, Blinken said, and the Kyrgyz Republic has repatriated over 432 of its citizens. But the remainder need to return to their home countries, as well.
And, finally, as Blinken explained, “We will strengthen our cooperation against ISIS branches outside of the Middle East.”
That includes ISIS in Africa. Saudi Arabia, along with the U.S. is the co-lead of that effort. In addition, the Coalition maintains a Communications Working Group, which is led by the U.S., the United Arab Emirates, and the U.K., and which deals with journalists and civil society groups to counter ISIS propaganda.
There is also a significant threat from ISIS-Khorasan in Central and South Asia, Blinken stated.
He concluded his remarks by citing U.S. financial contributions to the fight against terrorism.
They include “$148 million to enhance civilian-led border security and counterterrorism operations across sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia,” Blinken said
In addition, the U.S. is contributing $168 million to the Coalition’s annual Stabilization Pledge Drive for Iraq and Syria. That aid is used for “critical demining operations.” restoring “essential services like water and electricity,” while improving education and promoting economic opportunity, Blinken explained.
“This commitment” follows the U.S. announcement last week at the United Nations of “$535 million in additional humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, as well as displaced communities residing in the country,” Blinken concluded.