Iraqi PM Welcomes New NATO Commander in Iraq

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a meeting held on Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received the incoming NATO Mission commander in Iraq, Major General Christophe Hintzy, in the presence of outgoing commander Lieutenant General Lucas Schreurs. The visit marks a symbolic handover of NATO leadership in Iraq to France, which is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in Baghdad’s military transformation and security framework.

Iraq's Prime Minister al-Sudani welcomed Maj. Gen. Hintzy and expressed deep appreciation for Lt. Gen. Schreurs’ service during his tenure. He reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to a robust partnership with NATO, highlighting the achievements of the High-Level Dialogue held in Brussels last year and preparations underway for a second round of talks set to take place soon in Baghdad.

Iraqi PM al-Sudani underscored the importance of joint planning and coordination, directing that all necessary facilitation be extended to NATO’s advisory mission to ensure the success of its mandate. 

Lt. Gen. Schreurs, for his part, congratulated Iraq on its successful hosting of the 34th Arab League Summit, lauding the country’s reconstruction efforts and economic recovery, which he said were vital to regional stability. He voiced appreciation for Iraq’s continued support of NATO’s mission and affirmed that collaboration would persist through information exchange, consultation, and capacity building of Iraq’s security forces.

This high-profile transition coincides with a broader strategic shift in NATO’s role in Iraq and reflects France’s growing defense footprint in the country. As previously reported by Kurdistan24, France is set to assume the leadership of NATO’s advisory mission in Iraq, a development accompanied by deepening bilateral defense cooperation between Baghdad and Paris.

Earlier this month, Iraq’s Minister of Defense, Thabet Muhammad Saeed Al-Abbasi, led a senior military delegation to France where he met with French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The visit culminated in the signing of a pivotal defense agreement involving the acquisition of Airbus H225M Caracal helicopters for Iraq’s Army Aviation Command—a move seen as a substantial upgrade to Iraq’s aerial and counterterrorism capabilities.

Additionally, the two sides discussed the delivery of French-made air defense radars to bolster Iraq’s detection and response systems. These steps, part of a broader security modernization initiative, come amid rising regional volatility and Iraq’s growing efforts to diversify its defense partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, France’s assumption of the NATO command will provide fresh momentum to the alliance’s training and advisory efforts, which have been ongoing since the mission’s launch in 2018 at the request of the Iraqi government. The NATO mission is aimed at supporting institutional reform and capacity-building across Iraq’s security sector.

Strategically located and energy-rich, Iraq has become a focal point in France’s Middle East policy. Paris has emerged as a key interlocutor in the region, advocating for a strong NATO presence in Iraq to counter the threat of a potential ISIS resurgence and to enhance regional stability.

The Caracal helicopter acquisition marks a decisive step in Iraq’s effort to modernize its aging fleet. The French twin-engine, long-range aircraft are widely used by NATO forces for tactical transport, special operations, and search-and-rescue missions, enhancing Iraq’s ability to conduct operations across diverse terrains and threats.

Though the French Ministry of Defense has not yet issued an official statement regarding the delivery timeline of the helicopters or additional NATO objectives, both governments have emphasized their shared commitment to a durable defense partnership. The Iraq-France axis is emerging as a strategic pillar in NATO’s ongoing presence and influence in the Middle East.

As France assumes command of the NATO mission and Baghdad looks to institutionalize military reform, Monday’s meeting between Prime Minister al-Sudani and the new NATO leadership signals a deepening of trust, coordination, and joint vision in a turbulent regional landscape.