The Diplomat
Spain has assumed command of the NATO mission in Iraq through Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez, who this past Wednesday relieved Lieutenant General Giovanni Ianucci.
“Spain assumes command of the NATO mission in Iraq,” the Ministry of Defense reported yesterday through its Twitter account. “Army Lieutenant General Jose Antonio Aguero is, as of yesterday (Wednesday), the top commander of the allied forces that, since 2018, advise and train the Iraqi military in Baghdad,” it added.
The Spanish military officer will take over from Lieutenant General Giovanni Ianucci, who held the post since May 2022. The handover ceremony, held in Baghdad, was presided over by Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, commander of Joint Force Command Naples. During his speech, Lieutenant General Agüero Martínez highlighted the collaboration of the Atlantic Alliance in the training of the Iraqi armed forces: “Our Iraqi partners have their own history, culture, organization and tradition. It is up to them to organize their national security framework,” he said. “Through the NATO Mission in Iraq we will continue to provide our advice, tailored to their needs,” he added.
The NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI-Iraq) is an advisory and capability development mission and non-combat related. Its main objective is to help Iraq build its security institutions and achieve more sustainable and effective armed forces so that they are able to stabilize the country, fight terrorism and prevent the return of Daesh. All activities carried out by the NMI-Iraq, according to Defense, have the consent of the Iraqi government and are carried out with full respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Spain has seven military personnel in the NMI, which joins the 150 troops deployed in the international coalition in charge of training and qualifying the Iraqi security forces in their fight against Daesh.
