Under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Mr. Ali Falih al-Zaidi, and the Minister of Defense, Mr. Nayef al-Shammari, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Engineer Shwan Mazhar Ali Rawanduzi, paid an official visit to Washington, D.C.
This follows up on the visit of the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, with the aim of expanding military and arms cooperation between Iraq and the United States.
The visit included a series of meetings with leaders of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) at its headquarters, and with officials responsible for Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
During these meetings, several vital issues related to developing Iraqi military capabilities and addressing the technical and administrative obstacles facing the systems and weapons of the Armed Forces were discussed, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The discussions focused on completing the requirements for upgrading the readiness and operational status of Iraqi Air Force aircraft, including F-16s, C-130s, T-6s, and King Air aircraft. They also addressed the status of Bell aircraft belonging to the Army Aviation Command and discussed the latest developments regarding anti-drone systems for the Air Defense Command.
Emphasis was placed on the directives issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces during his visit to Washington, D.C., regarding the necessity of equipping Iraq with the latest defense systems and advanced technologies, adhering to the highest technical specifications. This aims to enhance the capabilities of the armed forces and elevate their operational performance.
For their part, U.S. officials affirmed their commitment to following up on the issues raised, working to overcome obstacles, and expediting necessary procedures. This will contribute to fulfilling maintenance and technical support requirements and raising the combat and operational readiness levels of the armed forces.
This visit is part of the Ministry of Defense’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the military partnership with the United States and develop armament and technical capabilities, in line with the requirements of the Iraqi military establishment and to maintain the readiness of its weapons and formations.
In another development, the Chief of Staff of the Iraqi Army, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, held a video conference Sunday with the Commander of the NATO Mission in Iraq, General Roman Armada, in the presence of the Secretary of Defense Relations.
During the conference, a number of topics of common interest were discussed, as well as ways to enhance cooperation in military and training fields, in order to contribute to developing capabilities and raising the level of readiness and efficiency of the Iraqi Armed Forces.
The Chief of Staff stressed the importance of continued communication and coordination between the two sides, and benefiting from experiences and expertise in areas that serve the military institution and enhance its capabilities. (Source & Photo © Iraq’s Ministry of Defense)
