Iraq
Iraq's Defence Minister Thabet al-Abbassi (R) welcomes France's Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in Baghdad, on July 18, 2023. Photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday on a trip to strengthen military ties with Iraq. He is expected to travel to Erbil on Wednesday.
“Determined to continue the fight against terrorism and for the security of Iraq by strengthening our bilateral relationship: training, joint exercises, equipment…,” Lecornu tweeted.
“A visit to mark France’s continued engagement in the fight against terrorism and in the face of new threats,” he added.
In a press conference alongside Iraq’s Defence Minister Thabet Muhammad al-Abbasi, Lecornu announced that 80 French trainers will conduct a two-year training course of about 2,100 Iraqi soldiers, the equivalent of five “desert battalions,” L’Orient reported.
As a member of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), France has trained about 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, including Kurdish Peshmerga.
The two ministers also discussed “the security of the airspace” of Iraq, said Lecornu.
“We affirm that the Iraqi armed forces’ success in defeating terrorism has enhanced regional stability and underscored the need to preserve this historic achievement,” Abbasi tweeted after their meeting.
Lecornu will also meet Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for discussions on “regional issues and on the sovereignty of Iraq,” he tweeted.
“Determined to continue the fight against terrorism and for the security of Iraq by strengthening our bilateral relationship: training, joint exercises, equipment…,” Lecornu tweeted.
“A visit to mark France’s continued engagement in the fight against terrorism and in the face of new threats,” he added.
In a press conference alongside Iraq’s Defence Minister Thabet Muhammad al-Abbasi, Lecornu announced that 80 French trainers will conduct a two-year training course of about 2,100 Iraqi soldiers, the equivalent of five “desert battalions,” L’Orient reported.
As a member of the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), France has trained about 10,000 Iraqi soldiers, including Kurdish Peshmerga.
The two ministers also discussed “the security of the airspace” of Iraq, said Lecornu.
“We affirm that the Iraqi armed forces’ success in defeating terrorism has enhanced regional stability and underscored the need to preserve this historic achievement,” Abbasi tweeted after their meeting.
Lecornu will also meet Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for discussions on “regional issues and on the sovereignty of Iraq,” he tweeted.
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