Baghdad (IraqiNews,com) — Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aboudi and the commander of the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), Lt. Gen. Ramon Armada, agreed on Sunday to open a NATO mission office in Baghdad while reaffirming continued cooperation on military training, cybersecurity, and strategic security partnerships.
According to a statement from al-Aboudi’s media office, cited by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the two officials held talks via video conference to discuss regional security developments and NATO’s ongoing support for Iraq’s armed forces.
During the discussion, both sides stressed the importance of reducing regional tensions and resolving recurring crises through dialogue and diplomatic channels. They also reviewed mechanisms for continuing NATO assistance in the areas of military training, advisory support, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.
A key outcome of the meeting was an agreement to establish a NATO Mission office in Baghdad, further strengthening coordination between the alliance and Iraqi security institutions.
Al-Aboudi said NATO’s role in Iraq remains focused on non-combat activities, including military advisory services, training, capacity building, cybersecurity support, and cooperation in artificial intelligence. He added that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government is pursuing a policy of engagement with friendly and neighboring countries to advance development, investment, and mutually beneficial partnerships.
For his part, Armada reaffirmed that NATO’s advisory and training mission is committed to helping develop the capabilities of Iraq’s armed forces to address future security challenges. He said the alliance remains committed to supporting Iraq in line with the priorities established by the Iraqi government.