NATO and Iraq hold high-level political dialogue

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On Thursday (5 November 2026), a delegation of high-level Iraqi officials, led by National Security Adviser, Qasim Al-Abud, visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels. They met with Allies and members of NATO’s International Staff, including the Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Dr. Christian Buck. They exchanged views on the NATO-Iraq partnership, the prospects for long-term cooperation, as well as on other topics of mutual interest, including regional security.

NATO-Iraq cooperation combines political dialogue, which was launched in August 2024, with practical support. Since 2018, at the request of the Iraqi authorities, NATO’s non-combat advisory and capacity building mission, NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) has helped Iraq build more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and armed forces, to stabilise their country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh. All of NMI’s efforts are carried out on request and with the consent of the Iraqi government. They are conducted in full respect of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “We are proud to work hand-in-hand every day to enable Iraq to build more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective armed forces and security institutions,” said NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Operations.

In March 2026, in response to the regional security situation, NATO Mission Iraq personnel were relocated from the Middle East to Joint Force Command Naples.

The aim and contours of the mission NMI is designed to help strengthen Iraqi security institutions and forces so that they themselves can prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh, fight terrorism and stabilise their country. The mission fully integrates civil and military personnel, and works closely with other international actors on the ground. NMI complements a broader international effort to help Iraq eradicate terrorism and promote stability. To achieve this, NATO advises relevant Iraqi defence and security officials in their Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Federal Police Command, Office of the National Security Advisor and Prime Minister’s National Operations Centre. The mission also advises Iraq’s professional military education institutions in the greater Baghdad area. Specific areas of focus include policy and strategy; force generation and development; resource management; Women, Peace and Security; leadership development; and good governance in the security sector. Furthermore, the mission integrates gender perspectives throughout its activities. In February 2021, following a request by the Iraqi government, NATO Defence Ministers agreed to increase the size of NATO Mission Iraq and to expand training activities to include more Iraqi security institutions, and areas beyond Baghdad. Subsequently, in August 2023, the North Atlantic Council – NATO’s principal political decision-making body – decided to extend the scope of NMI to include advisory and capacity-building activities in support of the Ministry of Interior and Federal Police Command. Any further expansion of the mission will be incremental and done upon Iraqi request. All efforts of NMI are carried out with the consent of the Iraqi government and conducted in full respect of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO does not deploy its personnel alongside Iraqi forces during combat operations and it only trains members of the Iraqi security forces under direct and effective control of the government of Iraq.NMI acts in coordination and cooperation with partners like the Global Coalition Against ISIS/Daesh, the European Union and the United Nations. In sum, NATO Mission Iraq: Contributes to the fight against terrorism by helping Iraq strengthen its security institutions and armed forces so that they themselves are better able to fight terrorism, prevent the return of ISIS/Daesh and stabilise their country. Advises the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, Federal Police Command, the Office of the National Security Advisor, the Prime Minister’s National Operations Centre and national security education institutions to build more sustainable, transparent, inclusive and effective security institutions and structures. Instructs on the rule of law, the law of armed conflict, countering corruption, the protection of civilians, children and armed conflict, and the Women, Peace and Security agenda. Is a non-combat mission founded on partnership and inclusivity as well as on full respect for Iraq’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Command of the mission NATO Mission Iraq is commanded by Lieutenant General Ramón Armada Vázquez (Spain), who assumed responsibility for this post on 19 May 2026. NMI falls under the authority of Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples, which is one of NATO’s three operational-level commands that stand ready to plan, conduct and sustain NATO operations of differing size and scope across the full spectrum of military response. In addition to managing operations from Naples or from the theatre of operation, JFC Naples also supports Allied Command Operations and NATO Headquarters in various functions such as training personnel and facilitating cooperation with partners. The evolution of NATO’s cooperation with Iraq NMI is the most recent and largest iteration of a long-standing relationship between the Alliance and Iraq, providing expertise and best practice in the reform of security structures, defence institution building, and training and education from the entire Alliance and its partners from all over the world. From 2004 to 2011, NATO conducted a relatively small but important support operation in Iraq that consisted of training, mentoring and assisting the Iraqi security forces. It was known as the NATO Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) and became part of the international effort to help Iraq establish effective and accountable security forces. All NATO Allies contributed to the training effort either in or outside of Iraq, through financial contributions or donations of equipment. In parallel and reinforcing this initiative, NATO also worked with the Iraqi government on a structured cooperation framework to develop the Alliance’s long-term relationship with Iraq. In July 2015, in response to a request by the Iraqi government, NATO agreed to provide defence and related security capacity-building support. In April 2016, it began conducting a number of “train-the-trainer’’ courses in Jordan for Iraqis (more than 350 Iraqi security and military personnel were trained). Then, following a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister, at the Warsaw Summit in July 2016 NATO Leaders agreed to provide NATO training and capacity-building activities to Iraqi security and military forces within Iraq. In January 2017, NATO deployed a modest but scalable Core Team to Baghdad of eight civilian and military personnel, setting up NATO’s permanent presence in Iraq. Jordan-based training transferred to Iraq in February 2017. The Core Team coordinated all NATO assistance provided to Iraq in 2017-2018 and laid the foundation for the subsequent establishment in 2018 of the current NMI. In March 2026, in response to the security situation in the region, NATO Mission Iraq adjusted its posture, safely relocating all of its personnel from the Middle East to Europe. NATO personnel, previously operating from Baghdad, will continue NMI’s mission from Allied Joint Force Command Naples (Italy).