Al-Awadi: The visit of US Defense Secretary was made with the government's full knowledge and approval

 
Baghdad-INA
 
 
The government spokesman, Basem Al-Awadi, confirmed on Wednesday, that the visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to Baghdad was made with the knowledge and approval of the government, stressing that Austin carried a message from the US President to support the stability of Iraq.
 
Al-Awadi said, in a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "The visit of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made to Baghdad yesterday, Tuesday, was announced, with the knowledge and approval of the government, and it is not a surprising one," noting that "the American side informed us about a week before the visit as applied in the Protocol contexts."
 
The statement added, "The meeting of Prime Minister Muhammad Shia'a al-Sudani with US Secretary of Defense discussed the development of prospects for strategic cooperation between the two countries," noting that "Austin carried a message from US President Joe Biden to the Iraqi leadership in which he hopes that Iraq will be stable and calm, away from any disturbance."
 
It noted that "The basic principle that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani indicated many times that Iraq does not need any external combat forces, and that cooperation efforts must focus on training, development and intelligence cooperation with files to combat the remnants of ISIS."
 
The statement pointed out that “Prime minister affirmed that the government's approach is a policy of moderation and balance between all the axes in accordance with the principle of mutual respect for sovereignty and work to promote common interests."
 
During his meeting with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin yesterday, Tuesday, Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani affirmed the government's keenness to strengthen relations with the United States of America, while Austin indicated his country's commitment to supporting the stability of Iraq, and looking forward to consolidating relations between the two countries and developing their partnerships in various fields."