The situation around the US decision to end the combat mission in Iraq deserves increased attention, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.
"Certainly this is a situation that deserves heightened attention. The situation is slightly different in Iraq because apparently, a considerable number of so-called military advisers remain, they will continue to work in Iraq. So, of course, we will be monitoring the situation. It is too early to predict what will happen, but of course, we would not want another territory to be added to the regional potential for instability in general. We need to watch this carefully," said the Kremlin spokesman.
He stressed that the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan is different. "Obviously, it is quite different, and it is probably hardly possible to draw any parallels here. But once again, I repeat, we all would like to see the general conflict potential in the region not be accrued with any new episodes," Peskov said.
The Kremlin spokesman noted that such a decision by Washington was not exactly news to the Kremlin. "There have been earlier statements by United States representatives and administrations of [US] presidents that sooner or later it will be necessary to withdraw from Iraq, so this is not exactly news," he pointed out.
Asked whether there could be any forces in Iraq with which Russia could potentially negotiate, given the experience of what is now happening in Afghanistan and Russia's experience in negotiating with the Taliban (banned in Russia), Peskov said: "First of all, of course, we are aimed at continuing contacts and at developing our relations with the Iraqi government, with the Iraqi leadership. We are interested in this."
End of mission
US President Joe Biden said Monday that the US combat mission in Iraq would end by the end of the year, but that cooperation between the two countries on counterterrorism would continue. The US leader explained, in particular, that the US would focus on advising and training local security forces.
On January 5, 2020, the Iraqi Parliament adopted a resolution demanding the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from the territory of the republic. In March this year, Iraqi President Barham Saleh said that the number of US troops there did not exceed 2.5 thousand people. In April, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi said that the increased level of combat readiness of the national army and security forces, as well as successes in fighting terrorists allowed to withdraw up to 60% of the foreign military contingent.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Mikhail Metzel / TASS
Based on materials from TASS