BACKGROUND PRESS CALL
BY A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL
ON THE VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER MUSTAFA AL-KADHIMI OF IRAQ
Via Teleconference
4:09 P.M. EDT
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you very much for joining this background briefing on tomorrow’s White House visit of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi of the Republic of Iraq.
The information on the call is embargoed until its conclusion and is attributable, on background, to a senior administration official.
With us today we have [senior administration official]. [Senior administration official] will provide brief remarks, and then we’ll go into brief Q&A after that.
And with that, I will turn it over to [senior administration official] to set the scene for the visit, from the White House perspective.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks very much. And thanks to everyone participating in today’s call. We appreciate it. We’re very much looking forward to the first visit from Prime Minister al-Kadhimi to the White House. And since the President’s trip, really, to Iraq in December of 2018, we have -- we have had a number of opportunities to further the discussion on the security, economic, and on the aid and assistance front.
As you all know, this is a critical time for both the United States and for Iraq. We stand shoulder to shoulder as partners against not only the enduring defeat of ISIS but also against common threats to internal stability and security.
Our goal for Iraq -- we seek to further in this conversation -- is a stable, secure, and prosperous Iraq that is a constructive neighbor in the region. We’ve got a range of things to discuss. As you all know, this takes place during the context of a strategic dialogue with Iraq that encompasses all of our shared goals and interests.
And so, today, at State, Secretary Pompeo was fortunate enough to host the senior delegation of Iraqi officials accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit. And tomorrow, many of those same officials will join the President, and many Cabinet officials in the White House, to advance those discussions even further.
This all takes place under the guise of the Strategic Framework Agreement between Iraq and the United States. It is, as I intimated earlier, dedicated to building Iraq’s defensive capabilities, providing security assistance, and working with Iraq to improve its stability and security. And this obviously includes preventing the reemergence of ISIS and addressing other internal security threats.
It’s also, of course, important because security is the bedrock of stability, which provides conditions necessary for economic growth and prosperity.
As you know, recent events, between the coronavirus pandemic and the decline in oil prices, have created a budget conundrum for Iraq. And as it seeks to resolve it, the United States is willing and able to work with them to improve conditions and to work towards growth and prosperity.
And so a significant portion of this visit will encompass a broad economic discussion where U.S. business interests and the resources of the federal government can be brought to bear to help Iraq face its many challenges. I’m happy to discuss that and also would point towards the event at the Energy Department and Secretary Brouillette’s readout of it. So I won’t preview too much there and allow him the opportunity to do so.
In the end, because we’re working towards economic prosperity as well as freedom from foreign meddling in its internal affairs, improved relationships with neighbors is also a critical part of the conversation. And as you saw last week in the President’s historic announcement with arriving at the Abraham Accord between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, the President is keen to ensure that we improve relations among the -- among our partners and allies in the region. And certainly, Iraq is part of that conversation. We want to improve its relations with its neighbors, and we think that’s a fundamental building block for its economic prosperity and for its security relationships.
We’re also going to be discussing today its relationship with the Kurdistan regional government to ensure that that contract remains viable. That’s a critical component of a stable, sovereign Iraq. And also, we’re working towards ensuring that the rights and the needs of the persecuted religious minorities, including Christians, Yazidis, and Shabak, recover after the enduring defeat of ISIS. It’s critical that we ensure that their needs are looked after.
So we have a broad range of topics to discuss. This is part of the strategic dialogue meant to address all of them. This is part of a process that will continue and encompasses all domains of our cooperation and assistance.
And so, with that, I think I’ll pause and look forward to taking your questions.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great. Moderator, we’re about to take questions, and we’ll try to get as many as we can in there. I just want to let the participants on the call know that the questions for this particular call are limited to the subject of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit. If you have any other questions on other Middle East-related topics, please just go ahead and reach out to us at NSC Press, and we’ll address those through the normal process.
With that, Moderator, we’ll go ahead and take as many questions as we can. And I’ll indicate when we have just time for a couple more questions for everyone’s planning purposes.
Go ahead, Moderator.
Q Thank you. Thank you for doing this. Secretary Pompeo talked about armed groups not being under the Iraqi Prime Minister's control, like those who attacked the U.S. embassy in Baghdad earlier this year -- well, December 31st. He also expressed in the remarks today that it would be better to replace them with police. But these militia groups are technically under the Iraqi Security Forces umbrella. They are -- they get government salaries. So is the White House asking the Prime Minister to change that; to, in some way, outlaw them?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, Kim. Great question. And thanks for participating and asking -- asking that today. So, as you know, and I'm sure many others on the call know, that this is a persistent problem that challenges Iraq's security. It threatens U.S. forces and interests in the region. And certainly, it's a challenge to Iraq’s sovereignty, and it's something that has very much seized this Prime Minister, and it has our full attention.
I think, at the end of the day, we think that Iraq's internal security needs are best met by forces that are, first and foremost, under the sovereign control of the government of Iraq. And that, we believe, is an essential component of it.
We think, in many instances, especially now that ISIS has been defeated, that there is a strong need for local, reliable police forces certainly to perform those critical functions in communities. It also allows for the return of many of the refugees. The Nineveh Plains comes to mind, where the prevention of those return of refugees creates additional problems. In fact, it, of course, contributes towards greater instability, and local police forces there may well be part of the equation that fixes it.
I think our focus now is to ensure that we work with the Iraqi government to ensure that it has the resources necessary, in terms of the assistance we're providing, to be able to get the right composite mixture of security forces in the right ratios and in the right places so that we don’t have an imbalance. And that, again, their response is to the Iraqi people, and they're under the sovereign control of the government of Iraq. But that may include, again, not just police forces, but it may include, of course, broader security force arrangements and the ministry of defense and interior.
In the end, we're not going to prescribe a solution, but I think we are going to discuss and we are going support and assist the Prime Minister get to the right answer in Iraq.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Okay. Next question, Operator.
Q Yes. You just recently talked -- mentioned it just now about the Nineveh Plains. (Inaudible) a question about the Assyrian Christians of Iraq. First of all, they're the indigenous people, so a little bit concerned about the use of the term "minority" because it's not used within Iraq.
Second, will there be any discussions on the fulfillment of the Assyrian administrative region on the same framework as the KRG? It's been promised a number of times, and it's potentially the only way that people are going to be willing to return to their area. Have you -- will that be brought up?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, thanks very much, Phil, for the question. And, as you know, regardless of the terminology used, the President and the administration are seized with the issue of individuals and their ability to express their religious beliefs and practice them freely without persecution.
And, certainly, the defeat of ISIS as the principal threat to most religious groups -- and, really, to everyone in Iraq, Syria, and the region -- is a critical component of it. In the aftermath of that and in part of the -- ensuring the enduring defeat, we recognize that it's critical that two things occur: The first is that the United States leverage the goodwill and the resources of this great country and provide support and assistance to those people, including the Assyrian Christians.
The second is that, within the constitutional framework of Iraq, that it exercises its rights and its responsibilities to provide for the return of refugees displaced because of ISIS; and second, ensures they've got the sound and safe and stable, secure communities to return to.
And to that end, as you know, we have led the way, providing more support and assistance to Iraq in order to accomplish this purpose than any other nation to which I’m aware. And we’ll continue to do so. And we will have the discussion with the Prime Minister during this visit to ensure that it remains so. And so it has to be a priority for him and for his government.
And I have to say, too, that, giving credit now to the Prime Minister, he has made visits that his predecessors have not. And I think he’s expressed an interest and he’s taken some initial steps to provide for a safe and stable return of refugees into these areas. And that encompasses a large number of Assyrian Christians.
So thanks again for the question.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. Moderator, we’ll go ahead and take the next question.
Q Hi. It’s Laurie Mylroie, Kurdistan 24. You said that one of your goals is to promote better ties between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Could you elaborate on that -- what you’re saying in these meetings?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, Laurie. Appreciate that question. And, yes, happy to.
In the end, you know, the constitution is the basis and the contract between Iraq’s people and its government. And, as you know, there are a number of provisions regarding the relationship between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, and we’re keen to see those fulfilled. We understand they’re not easy. We are -- we are and we have been willing and able to assist in the process to do that.
Our most acute conversation point in this visit is to make sure that the resources available to the Baghdad central government also find their way to the KRG. And so there is an agreed-upon distribution of resources, and the KRG is part of that equation. And we understand that the budget crisis -- again, already alluded to -- is significant. And Iraq is not alone in this.
Nonetheless, it is important, from our view, that Iraq continue to provide the support and assistance that the KRG needs, as it does to other regions within Iraq.
So that is our primary concern, and we’ll continue to do that. But as previously mentioned in Phil’s question and answer, we’re also concerned, relative to the KRG, that they -- we continue to get their support and assistance for the return of refugees.
And, of course, to do that, they need funding. And so that’s going to be -- among the subjects discussed, that’ll be a principal focus.
Thanks for the question.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Operator, we’ll go ahead and take three more questions.
Q Hi, there. Thank you guys for doing the call. I wanted to ask you: Both sides have discussed publicly about a future reduction in U.S. forces in Iraq, and I wanted to ask if there was a specific timeline for that that will be discussed tomorrow.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks for the question, Alex. Appreciate it. As you know, the strategic dialogue encompasses both of our defense ministries. I don’t want to get ahead of this -- of that visit, that engagement, and the announcements that they may or may not make.
I will say this: that the President’s strategy, relative to both ISIS and Iraq, has allowed us to adapt our force structure in the region, as you know. And because we've had success against the physical caliphate itself and against ISIS more broadly, that’s enabled us to do two things: consolidate our positions for force protection purposes and also ensure that we can continue to train and advise our Iraqi Security Force counterparts. And so, as a result, it’s managed to -- we've managed to reduce our overall presence in Iraq over time.
That process will continue. There are no hard and fast timelines, and there are no hard and fast numbers, but that certainly would be part of the discussion as we evaluate what Iraq security requirements are and what the United States believes it can do. And I would also note that these discussions are also occurring at NATO SHAPE Headquarters over the next couple of months, as NATO evaluates its role in Iraq. And, of course, we encourage their participation, as do the Iraqis.
So thanks for the question.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great. Operator, two more questions, please.
Q Hey, guys. Thanks for doing this. I'm intrigued by how you opened, talking about improving relations with neighbors, but without criticizing Iranian influence in Iraq. Can you talk about the balance you're trying to find between the desire to reduce Iranian influence in Iraq and respecting the Iraqi government’s statements about needing to have a good relationship with Tehran?
And then, following the Chevron MOU that we just saw, will you be discussing expanding business deals to other companies -- for example, Exxon -- and overcoming some of the bureaucratic, political opposition to those deals? Thanks.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, Nick. Great questions, as always. So I’ll take the second one first because it’s easier. And so, yes, we are covering a broad range of investments covering a number of different U.S. companies.
One of the principal objectives of this visit is to put them on sound footing. As you know and many others on the call know, we've been working with our Iraqi counterparts on energy- and electricity-related projects, and others, for some time. And there have been a number of obstacles.
The Prime Minister’s government has made this a priority; the President has made it a priority. There is a significant engagement that will occur during this visit at the Energy Department, and Secretary Brouillette will be announcing the results of that. So I don’t want to steal his thunder, but I will say that we have a significant range of U.S. companies making significant investments and signing agreements at different stages with the government of Iraq during this visit. So thanks for the question.
Second, “balance,” I think, is the operative word in your first question. Our goal is to ensure that there is a balance within Iraq and in its relations with its neighbors.
As it pertains to the non-Iranian neighbors, I think there’s much to be done to improve and expand those relations. The Prime Minister agrees, and we are going to be working to assist and enable that.
And, naturally, as you look to energy infrastructure and electricity projects, we have focused on this with a concerted effort. It is vital that Iraq’s electricity grid be connected to the GCC. We’ve been working on this, as I’m sure you know, and there’s more work to be done. And so that will continue.
As it pertains to Iran, our goal is to ensure that Iran’s malign and destabilizing influence is no longer present and affecting the stability, political, and security environment inside of Iraq. Our conversations with the Prime Minister will be helped to -- help to assist him to be able to get to that point.
But, of course, as you know, we recognize that the cultural and religious ties that exist between the two countries will persist. That’s not, of course, our issue or objection. Our concern is solely with the government in Tehran and its malign and destabilizing influence, which in many ways is exercised through militias, which are not answerable to the sovereign government of Iraq -- going back to an earlier question.
But thanks for asking and appreciate that very much.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. Operator, we’ll just go ahead and take one more question before concluding the call.
Q Yes, thank you for doing this. My question is: What is the position of the U.S. of the intervention in Iraq -- let’s say, about Turkey intervention in the northern side of Iraq? Thank you.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Great question. And we expect that this also will be a topic of conversation. We have watched this with interest and with concern. In the end, the starting point for the answer to this question is Iraq’s sovereignty. It’s an essential goal. It is a longstanding requirement for us. It is obviously a priority for the Prime Minister.
So, first, is that for a sovereign, stable Iraq, it is essential that malign influence exercised and unilateral action taken inside the country -- we have to, obviously, ensure that the conditions that might bring that about are not present.
And the second, I would say, is that Iraq’s relations with its neighbors, as I said earlier, is going to be a focus of work for both the United States and the Prime Minister.
Our goal -- having a relationship with both countries -- is to work and mitigate the effects of that and, hopefully, remove the condition by which one country -- in this case, Turkey -- feels the necessity to do so.
We have, as you know, over time, established coordination mechanisms in the past, and that may be one of the things discussed.
But the bottom line is: We respect Iraqi sovereignty, and we expect other countries to do the same.
Thank you.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you very much. Thanks, everyone, for joining today’s call. As a reminder, this call is attributable on background to a “senior administration official.”
The call is now concluded, and the embargo is lifted. Thanks very much, everyone.
END 4:29 P.M. EDT
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