NATO: The Iraqi army is one of the strongest armies in the region and our presence is for advice and training

INA-  Baghdad


The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) confirmed on Wednesday that the Iraqi army is older than the alliance, and one of the strongest armies in the region, while noting that its presence in Iraq is for advice and training purposes.

"Today a Spanish commander receives the command of the NATO mission in Iraq, and there is little change in the work of the mission," said Lieutenant General Jose Antonio, in a speech during the ceremony to replace NATO command in Iraq, and we will continue what our predecessor started."

“All NATO members share the same goals and values,” Antonio added, noting that “NATO was established because no country could face the threats posed by external adversaries alone.”

He stressed that "threats and adversaries have changed over the years but the alliance has adapted to new challenges," noting that "NATO consists of 31 countries, with an increase of 10 countries that signed the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949."

“The organization was originally aimed at defending the countries on the South Atlantic,” he noted.

He explained, "NATO's presence in Iraq comes at the request of its government to support security sector reform," noting that "the mission is not of a combative nature, but rather to provide advice and deal with the same problems we face."

He added: "Iraqi colleagues, you have your history, culture and systems, it is up to you to organize your private sector by aligning our advice with your own circumstances, we offer you the opportunity by learning from our experience, and the support we provide to Iraq is also useful for NATO members, we live in a world in which risks cannot be limited to a country or region.

“A secure and prosperous Iraq makes our countries safer and more prosperous, and providing advice is the main mission of the NATO mission in Iraq,” he stressed.

In turn, Navy Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command (JFC) Naples, said during the ceremony that “the decrees of changing power represent a continuation of leadership, as well as representing the commitment of our partnership to work in NATO’s mission in Iraq.”

He explained, "The NATO mission in Iraq is an advisory and training mission and works at the request of the government, supporting Iraqi forces and training the next generation," noting that "the partnership requires cooperation with Iraqi officials."

"Work and cooperation are continuing to build Iraqi institutions," he added.

For his part, former NATO mission Lieutenant General Giovanni M. Iannucci expressed, during his speech, “sadness for the abandonment of his Iraqi counterparts and the army chief of staff,” offering “thanks for Iraq for hosting.”

"When I arrived in Iraq, I spoke with friends and contacted government institutions and explained the work of the NATO mission in Iraq, and one of the things we expanded academic work, visited distinguished places in Iraq, and we saw excellence in universities," Iannucci continued.

“We are not here for the sake of war because the Iraqi army was founded in 1921, which is older than NATO and one of the strongest armies in the region,” he continued, noting that “this country and its people are prosperous and stable, and the Iraqi army has culture and traditions.”