The United States and Iraq have affirmed their commitment to the reduction of the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, without giving a timeline.
In a joint statement on the U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue issued Thursday, the two countries recognized the progress made in eliminating the Islamic State threat, which allows the U.S. to continue to reduce its forces in Iraq over the coming months.
The U.S. will further discuss with the Iraqi government the status of its remaining forces in the country, as they “turn their focus towards developing a bilateral security relationship based on strong mutual interests,” the statement said.
As the U.S. reiterated its commitment to not keep permanent bases or a permanent military presence in Iraq, the Iraqi government said it remains committed “to protecting the military personnel of the International Coalition and the Iraqi facilities hosting them.”
The statement said the U.S. and Iraq will continue their cooperation on economic and energy fields, as well as on political issues.