Eduardo González
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, conveyed yesterday to the Iraqi authorities “Spain’s commitment to the security and stability of Iraq” and visited the Spanish troops of the NATO Mission in Iraq, whom he personally thanked for their work and to which he highlighted “the effort and sacrifice made by the Spanish military in favor of international security and stability.”
Yesterday Sánchez made the first visit by a President of the Spanish Government to Baghdad in twenty years, after the one made by José María Aznar in 2003 after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime at the hands of the international coalition led by the US and when the country was under North American administration.
Sánchez’s visit began with a meeting with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, at the end of which the two leaders offered a joint Institutional Declaration that establishes the roadmap for future collaboration between the two countries and sets objectives ambitious in the political, economic, commercial, cultural and educational fields. “We have agreed to hold a meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Commission in Baghdad in 2024,” announced the President of the Government.
Likewise, the President of the Government highlighted “Spain’s commitment to the security and stability of Iraq” and recalled that, since last May, a Spanish soldier, Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez, has been in command of the NATO Mission-Iraq (NMI), NATO’s training mission in Iraq. Sánchez also conveyed to Prime Minister Al Sudani his concern about the increase in regional tension, as well as Spain’s support and gratitude for the efforts made by the Government of Iraq to protect the international troops deployed in the country.
The two leaders agreed on the need to put an “urgent” end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip. “We reject the deaths of civilians, especially children, we warn about the humanitarian crisis that this crisis is leaving in the Palestinian population and we demand the end of hostilities and a permanent ceasefire,” declared Sánchez.
For his part, Al Sudani assessed “positively” the position of the Spanish Government condemning “the aggression against Gaza” and reiterated the need for the international community to assume its corresponding role to stop the serious violations that are taking place in the Palestinian territories. The Iraqi Prime Minister also assured that he has issued guidelines to the country’s Ministries and institutions to open themselves to cooperation with Spanish companies, so that they can contribute to the country’s development projects.
Specifically, Sánchez’s visit included, in addition to a meeting with President Abdul Latif Rashid, a meeting with Spanish businessmen at the prime minister’s residence in Baghdad, which was also attended by Al Sudani. The President of the Government traveled to Iraq accompanied by representatives at the highest level of a group of leading companies in sectors of special interest to Iraq, such as digitalization technologies, railways, the agricultural sector and public infrastructures.
Visit to the Spanish troops
The other highlight of the visit to Baghdad was the visit to the Spanish troops stationed at the Union III multinational Base within the framework of the NATO Mission in Iraq, to whom he personally thanked their work on behalf of Spain and to whom highlighted “the effort and sacrifice made by the Spanish military in favor of international security and stability.” Spain also participates in operation Inherent Resolve, within the framework of the International Coalition to Fight Daesh.
“Today I have been able to see the respect and recognition that all the men and women under your command have for you,” declared Pedro Sánchez, addressing General Agüero. The Chief Executive also made special recognition to the Protection Force, in charge of guaranteeing the security of military advisors of different nationalities on the ground, and expressed his gratitude to the Spanish unit Task Force Toro, which provides air transportation to the forces. of the Coalition and the NATO mission.
During his meeting with the Spanish troops, Pedro Sánchez paid tribute to the twelve Spanish members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard who, since 2003, “have given their lives in the line of duty and in defense of peace in Iraq”. In this context, he made special mention of the seven military agents of the National Intelligence Center who were killed in an ambush in Latifiya, south of Baghdad, twenty years ago.
