Nato plans re-engagement with Iraq

Four years after its departure from Iraq, Nato is planning to re-engage with the country by training officers to help in the fight against Islamic State.

Nato officials are still in discussion with Iraq and member nations about what help it would provide in the fight against Islamic State. 62 countries, including all 28 Nato states, are currently engaged in an international coalition against Islamic State.

Defence ministers are scheduled to meet at Nato headquarters in Brussels on 23-24 June, mainly to discuss progress on a new rapid-reaction force that can be deployed on the alliance’s eastern front against Russia or in the south and south-east in conflicts such as Libya, Syria or Iraq.

The US ambassador to Nato, Douglas Lute said: “Nato is working on defence capacity-building effort where Nato as an institution would, on demand of the government of Iraq, offer particular capacity-building assistance. For example, helping them write their national security programme, helping them work with security sector reform, helping them with logistics, and command and control, certain niche capabilities which Nato has expertise in doing. That programme is not yet complete but it is nearly complete. I would say in the coming weeks we would expect an announcement that Nato has finalised with the government of Iraq this defence capacity-building.”