NATO and the Coalition against Daesh suspend their activities in Iraq. Too dangerous
(B2) The resurgence of tensions in Iraq is such, after the execution by an American drone of Iranian General Q. Soleimani and several leaders of Shiite militias, that NATO has decided to suspend its training activities for Iraqi forces. . Ditto for the coalition against Daesh which also suspends all operations against the terrorist organization
A meeting of the North Atlantic Council (the NAC, which brings together the ambassadors of the 29 member countries) was convened urgently this Monday afternoon in Brussels to discuss the situation in Iraq. At the end of the meeting, the Secretary General of the Alliance, the Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg, made a few comments in front of the press which B2 carefully listened to.
First purpose of the meeting: to have explanations
During the meeting, the Alliance ambassadors were briefed by both a representative of the US State Department and a representative of the Pentagon. Objective of the Americans: to demonstrate that this strike was a response to an imminent threat to American personnel. This justified that all the Allies had not been taken into confidence before the attack. An apparently convincing briefing, since in the opinion of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, all the Allies expressed their " worry and called on Iran to refrain from further violence and provocation ».
A decision specific to the Americans that the Allies support
However, Jens Stoltenberg wanted to underline the non-responsibility of the Atlantic Alliance in this action. Asked several times by several colleagues, he indicated that this decision had been taken, " neither by the coalition nor NATO “, but by the Americans. However, the Allies share with the Americans their " concern about Iran's destabilizing activities in the region or its support for various terrorist groups.
NATO training mission suspended
On the side of the NATO training mission in Iraq, the ambassadors of the 29 Member States endorsed the decision taken urgently this weekend and announced by one of the spokespersons of the Alliance. " NATO's mission continues "particularly for the board, " but training activities are currently suspended “said Jens Stoltenberg.
The safety of engaged soldiers
This decision is taken for an imperative: the safety of the some 500 soldiers participating in the mission (1), described as " primordial ". " We continue to take all necessary precautions “, we add to the NATO headquarters, without specifying whether the troops will remain in the country or will be withdrawn.
A temporary suspension
The Secretary General of the Alliance wants to be optimistic. The suspension is only " temporary he says. " We are ready to restart as soon as the security situation on the ground allows it. In addition to the security problem, there is also a legal question. " We are here at the invitation of the Iraqi authorities recalls J. Stoltenberg.
Foreign troops more welcome in Iraq?
On Sunday, during an extraordinary session, the Iraqi Parliament demanded that the government ask foreign troops to leave the country. This motion, of course, is only optional. But it translates well the atmosphere of at least some of the Iraqi political leaders. It could weigh on the minds both within the Iraqi government and in the countries taking part in the operation (2).
The international coalition takes the same path
The international coalition against Daesh, led by the United States, is also idling. American personnel have been relocated to ensure the protection of national infrastructures on site. " Training and action against Daesh has been suspended, the first priority going to the protection of coalition personnel “, indicates a press release from the coalition.
Comment: In fact, even if their leaders want to be optimistic, the missions of NATO and the coalition against Daesh are grounded in Iraq, rendered ineffective. The need for the Americans to deploy a maximum of manpower to protect their grips, like the (real) fear of a suicide attack by Iraqi personnel who would turn their weapons against their American or Western mentors, got the better of all motivation. If this situation were to continue, it is to be feared that several countries would prefer to repatriate their personnel rather than see their soldiers condemned to inaction (at best), or to serve as a target.
(Leonor Hubaut, with NGV)
- NATO's training and advisory mission in Iraq has been training Iraqi forces since October 2018 to support them in the fight against Daesh (read: NATO launches small train and advise mission in Iraq)
- A situation monitored very closely, particularly in Canada, which provides a good part of the mission's personnel (250 personnel) and the command. " We continue to monitor and assess the situation. We remain in close coordination with our international partners said Todd Lane, spokesman for Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, according to the Canadian press.
