ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Senior Iraqi and American officials on Thursday held technical consultations on their future bilateral security relationship, emphasizing commitment to enhancing the capabilities of Iraqi and Kurdish security forces and increasing cooperation on counterterrorism.

“Participants expressed their ongoing commitment to laying the foundations for a new phase in US-Iraq security cooperation that will continue to empower Federal Iraq to provide for its security and achieve tangible benefits for both Americans and Iraqis,” read a joint statement on the meeting.

The meeting comes within the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement, which seeks to normalize US-Iraq relations through building strong economic, diplomatic, cultural, and security ties. The agreement serves as the cornerstone for a long-term bilateral relationship between Baghdad and Washington based on mutual goals.

“Senior officials will continue their consultations in the coming months aimed at long-term security and counterterrorism cooperation that strengthens and supports the capabilities and readiness of the Iraqi federal security forces, including the Peshmerga forces, and promotes the shared interests of safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty, defeating terrorism, bolstering regional stability, and strengthening economic ties between our two nations,” the statement concluded.

In early October, the US Defense Department reaffirmed that Washington and the Global Coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) will be reducing their military presence in Iraq, describing the step as a reflection of their “combined success” in fighting the militant group.

Iraq and the US in September 2024 announced they had reached an agreement to wrap up the US-led coalition’s military presence in the country by “no later than the end of September 2025” and transition to bilateral security partnerships “in a manner that supports Iraqi forces and maintains pressure on ISIS.”

Progress on the agreement’s implementation has yet to be made known to the public.

US forces are set to remain in the Kurdistan Region until September 2026, according to the agreement. Peshmerga forces that significantly contributed to defeating ISIS have been receiving military support from multiple countries that are members of the US-led coalition.