Russia welcomes US and coalition troop withdrawal from Iraq and affirms Baghdad's ability to face challenges

Moscow, Oct 2 (KUNA) -- Russia welcomed on Friday the withdrawal of U.S. and international coalition forces from Iraq, expressing confidence in the ability of Iraqi authorities to assume responsibility for the country’s security and to confront internal and external challenges. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in statements reported by Russian media that Moscow “certainly welcomes” the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq, viewing the move as evidence of the Iraqi army and security forces’ capacity to strengthen the state’s defensive capabilities and ensure its national security independently. Zakharova added that Moscow is convinced the Iraqi people will be able to face any internal or external challenges they encounter, noting that the end of the foreign military presence represents a development in the process of enhancing the responsibility of Iraqi institutions for the country’s security. In a related context, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that “the foreign military presence in Iraq was linked to the U.S. invasion that began in 2003, which led to decades of instability in Iraq and the surrounding region.” Russia’s position follows Iraq’s official announcement on September 30 last year that the international coalition’s military mission to combat the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) had ended, with relations with coalition member states shifting to a bilateral framework encompassing security cooperation, information and expertise sharing, training, and capacity building, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Baghdad affirmed that the end of the coalition’s mission does not mean the end of cooperation with friendly countries, pointing to the continuation of security and intelligence cooperation based on shared interests and respect for national sovereignty, while reiterating that the Iraqi government has transferred responsibility for security and military decision-making to Iraqi state institutions. (End) D.A.N./R.J.