By Muslim Parrot Reporter
The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, engaged in discussions on Tuesday with US Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, focusing on collaborative efforts in border security, drug control, and training initiatives. The meeting occurred in Washington DC during Al-Sudani’s official visit to the United States, where he held talks with US President Joe Biden and key officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Dialogue between the two parties encompassed bilateral relations, potential areas for cooperation, and leveraging the expertise of the US Department of Homeland Security in border security, drug interdiction, and advanced technology utilization, alongside training programs. The discussions were based on a statement referenced by the Iraqi News Agency (INA).
Al-Sudani conveyed gratitude to Mayorkas for the US Department of Homeland Security’s endeavors in recovering stolen Iraqi artifacts, as highlighted in the statement. In a separate meeting with Secretary Austin on Monday, Al-Sudani reiterated Iraq’s commitment to maintaining robust bilateral ties, acknowledging the significant sacrifices made by the Iraqi populace over the past decade in the international coalition’s fight against ISIS.
Acknowledging the value of international support in counterterrorism efforts, Al-Sudani emphasized Iraq’s preparedness within its security services and emphasized the initiation of collaboration through the Higher Coordinating Committee (HCC). The HCC aims to evaluate the nation’s military status, ISIS threat assessment, and the security apparatus’s capabilities, with a view to providing recommendations on the timeline for concluding the international coalition’s mission.
Al-Sudani outlined plans for the HCC’s second meeting in July to further bolster bilateral cooperation, aligning with Iraq’s constitutional framework and the strategic framework agreement. This signifies Iraq’s commitment to fostering partnerships and ensuring the collective security interests of the nation and its allies.