Trump, Pressure Worked? "NATO to Take on More Roles in Iraq"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is expanding its role within Iraq. It plans to take on more training missions in Iraq to counter the Islamic Sunni militant group Islamic State (IS). This is interpreted as European countries accepting U.S. President Donald Trump's demand to expand NATO's role in the Middle East.

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General [Photo by AP News]

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated at a press conference on the 11th (local time) that NATO defense ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss expanding NATO's operational area from the Gulf to the Mediterranean. The NATO defense ministers' meeting will be held over two days, on the 12th and 13th.

Secretary General Stoltenberg said, "Training local troops is the best way to combat terrorism," adding, "Prevention is better than intervention. NATO has long-standing experience in this role."

NATO member countries have decided to resume the suspended training missions. Previously, after Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, was killed by U.S. forces, and Iran retaliated with missile attacks, NATO member countries suspended training missions in Iraq and evacuated their troops to safe areas.

The scale of troops to be deployed in Iraq will likely be discussed at NATO defense ministers' meetings.

Foreign media analyze that President Trump's pressure influenced this expansion of NATO forces' roles. Last month, President Trump argued that NATO forces should take on more roles in the Middle East and other regions. He has also demanded increased defense spending from NATO member countries in Europe.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, welcomed this direction of NATO's role expansion. Ambassador Hutchison evaluated, "This NATO policy aligns with President Trump's overall plan that to help others, they must be able to solve problems themselves."

However, the plan to expand NATO's role in Iraq will require not only discussions among NATO member countries but also consultations with Iraq. After Commander Soleimani died in Baghdad, the Iraqi parliament adopted a resolution demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in Iraq. Therefore, further discussions with the Iraqi government will be necessary for NATO's role expansion. Nonetheless, recently, the Iraqi military announced its intention to resume counterterrorism operations, stating, "We have decided to continue coalition operations to defeat IS to make use of the remaining time before establishing a new relationship with the U.S. and allied forces."