NATO Mission Reaffirms Long-Term Partnership with Iraq

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The NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) has reiterated its commitment to a long-term partnership with Baghdad, aimed at strengthening the country’s security institutions and supporting broader social and economic development.

In a statement to the Iraq's state media (INA) on Friday, 19 September 2025, the Mission underlined that its cooperation with Iraq goes beyond traditional military training, encompassing cybersecurity, crisis management, governance, and human rights.

“The advice and counsel offered to the Iraqi Army is aimed at raising the effectiveness of the Armed Forces,” the Mission stated. “More importantly, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence has agreed with NATO Mission Iraq on several long-term objectives to create stronger and more reliable Armed Forces, which promotes a safer and more secure Iraq.”

NMI said: “the Iraqi Ministry of Defensc, Ministry of Interior and NMI agree that NATO Mission Iraq efforts are designed to enhance the capabilities of the Iraqi Armed Forces and Federal Police, because we have agreed on the areas of focus for advice and counsel.”

Adding: “Also we have the Defence and Related Security Capacity Building (DCB) package for Iraq that as agreed in July 2015 following a request from the Iraqi Prime Minister. Based on this request and Allies’ decisions at the 2016 Warsaw Summit, training and capacity-building activities were transferred inside Iraq with a renewed emphasis on a “train-the-trainer” approach.”

Furthermore, the statement clarified: “Building on the previous capacity-building activities, NMI provides valuable day-to-day advice and support primarily across the Ministry of Defence directorates. Through NMI, the Alliance also advises professional military education institutions to help Iraq develop these entities, as well as national security structures, more effectively.”

Concerning the expansion of NATO work in Iraq, the NMI said: “The cooperation between the Iraqi Armed Forces and NATO Mission Iraq focuses on a range of objectives, jointly identified by NATO and Iraq, and is designed to improve Iraqi institutions and processes.”

“NMI already expanded the scope beyond traditional military training in August 2023 when NATO’s North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved an expansion of NMI’s advisory and capacity building activities to include the Federal Police Command,” the NMI said. “The mission also advises on rule of law, governance-countering corruption and protection of civilians, Women, Peace & Security and institutional professional education, areas that reach well beyond military skills. NMI supports increasing the role of women within the Iraqi Forces and the respect for human rights.”

“Our collaboration also involves offering advice to senior leaders, sharing best practices, supporting budgeting and programming, and enabling organisational modernisation,” NMI explained. “NMI advises at the institutional level, including both the Ministry of Defence and Interior and High Military Education Centres and Academies.” 

However, reforming institutions can take longer than training individual soldiers but the results achieved have a real long-term impact, the NMI clarified, stressing that continuing to invest in advising Iraqi security forces and institutions is essential.

The Mission confirmed it is currently aligning its structure with Iraq’s evolving priorities, including cybersecurity, disaster management, and non-commissioned officer (NCO) training.

Concluding, NMI stressed: “The central role of NMI is ministerial-level advice. By working directly with the Iraqi Ministries of Defence and Interior, we can provide essential strategic and technical support to strengthen institutional and operational capacities. Our ultimate goal is that Iraq reaches its full potential in terms of security and stability, which will lead to economic and social improvements for the benefit of all Iraqis.”



PUKMEDIA