News item | 07-07-2023 | 3:00 PM
The Netherlands will contribute more to the NATO mission in Iraq (NMI). It concerns an infantry company with support of a total of 145 soldiers. It will be used for one year from 1 January 2024 Force Protection in Baghdad. This mission is active at the request of Iraq. The Netherlands is currently providing advisers and staff officers to strengthen the Iraqi security sector. That deployment will be extended through July 2025.
This is reported by Ministers Hoekstra of Foreign Affairs, Ollongren of Defence, Schreinemacher of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Yesilgöz-Zegerius of Justice and Security in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Involved for no reason
It is not for nothing that the Netherlands is involved in the security situation in Iraq. A stable and secure Iraq is primarily of great importance to the civilian population in Iraq. Iraq is located in a very unstable region on the border with Europe. Further instability could lead to renewed conflict and a possible resurgence of the terrorist threat.
Reason enough for the government to commit itself in the coming years to the stability and development of Iraq. This is done by contributing to various initiatives to protect the civilian population and strengthen the Iraqi security sector.
The NATO mission in Iraq helps the country to resist ISIS and other threats by strengthening the Iraqi security sector. Furthermore, NMI is there to assist Iraq in successfully managing the security sector. To move Dutch soldiers and allies with advisory functions for their work, there are Force Protectionunits, which the Netherlands will also supply next year.
Extension
The extension up to and including July 2025 applies to a maximum of 20 military and civilian advisers that the Netherlands is currently supplying to the NATO mission and a maximum of 7 persons to the European Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM). This concerns police officers and civilian advisers who focus on the reform of the civilian security sector.
The extension for the same term also applies to 1 military adviser involved in the reform of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA) in Iraq, and with it the Iraqi Security Forces. The Netherlands will also remain involved Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR). A maximum of 12 advisers contribute to the coordination, interpretation and implementation of the education and training program of the Iraqi Special Forces. A maximum of 5 advisers direct the reinforcement of the Peshmerga on various military-operational aspects, such as planning and logistics. Another maximum of 5 soldiers will remain in Erbil, the Dutch National Support Element (logistics) support.
Threats to stability
With the deployment of military personnel within the NATO mission in Iraq, at Operation Inherent Resolve and the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs contributes to the professionalization of the Iraqi security sector. In addition, the Netherlands is contributing through EUAM to reforming the civilian aspects of the Iraqi security sector.