NATO poised to expand training efforts in Iraq

BRUSSELS — NATO is ready to expand its military training effort in Iraq, the alliance’s top civilian official said Wednesday, but the Iraqi government is not yet ready to approve the move.

The Canada-led operation was launched in 2018 but suspended last month after a U.S. missile strike at Baghdad Airport killed Iran’s top general and Iraq’s government and lawmakers demanded that foreign troops leave. U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has demanded that U.S. allies do more in the Mideast.

The NATO plan now is to move hundreds of trainers working with the international force fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq to NATO’s own mission helping to build up the Iraqi army. No additional personnel would be deployed to the strife-torn country.

After chairing talks between NATO defense ministers, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that they “agreed in principle to enhance” the training effort in Iraq.

“In the first instance, this will consist of taking on some of the global coalition’s current training activities. Ministers also agreed to explore what more we can do,” he told reporters.

Asked why no agreement was reached Wednesday with the Iraqi government, Stoltenberg said only that “we are already in Iraq based on an invitation from Iraq and we will only stay as long as we are welcome.”

“Everything we do will be in close consultation and coordination with the Iraqi government,” he added.