NATO informed on Wednesday that it is “adjusting” its mission in Iraq, considering the security of its personnel “paramount,” while the country continues to record attacks from Iran. “We can confirm that we are adjusting our posture within the framework of the NATO mission in Iraq,” NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart told EFE. She explained that they are currently “working in close coordination with allies and partners.” “The security of our personnel is paramount, so we will refrain from providing further details on this matter,” she stated. Hart also made it clear that “the political dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO and Iraq, even through the NATO mission in Iraq, will continue.” The NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI) is an advisory and capacity-building mission, one of combat, that helps Iraq create more sustainable, transparent, inclusive, and effective armed forces and security institutions. The goal is for the Iraqis themselves to be in a better position to stabilize their country, fight terrorism, and prevent the return of the terrorist group Islamic State. The NMI collaborates with a wide range of international partners, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, the European Union, and the United Nations. The mission was launched at the NATO summit in Brussels in July 2018, following a request from the Government of Iraq, and was established in Baghdad in October of that same year. In February 2021, the NATO Defense Ministers and, in August 2023, the North Atlantic Council, agreed to extend the mission at the request of the Iraqi government. Spain led the mission from May 2023 to May 2024 and has 178 troops deployed, according to the Ministry of Defense. It currently has several hundred members, both civilian and military.
