19 February 2021

NATO to expand Iraq training mission

by Brooks Tigner

After a slowdown of its activities due to security concerns in early 2020 and subsequent pandemic restrictions, the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) will now expand its size, scope of activities, and geographic coverage, allied NATO defence ministers agreed during a virtual meeting on 18 February.

“We will do this step-by-step, based on demands from the Iraqi authorities,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters when announcing the decision after the meeting. “Training Iraq’s forces is the best way to prevent ISIS [the Islamic State or Daesh] from returning.”

After a slowdown of its activities due to security concerns in early 2020 and subsequent pandemic re...

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