UNIPATH STAFF
To prevent a resurgence of terrorist groups such as Daesh, the Iraqi government has asked NATO to set up specialized military academies to develop the skills of Iraqi troops.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said a training mission in Iraq drawing on the strengths of European militaries will aid in “projecting stability” in the Middle East.
“NATO already trains Iraqi forces. But establishing a mission will make our current training efforts more sustainable,” Stoltenberg announced in February 2018. “It would benefit from better resourcing and a well-established process for allies to contribute forces. We will also plan to help the Iraqi forces become increasingly professional.”
In the past, NATO has sent temporary “mobile training teams” to educate Iraqi recruits in areas such as logistics, treating battlefield wounds and countering improvised explosive devices. In some cases, Iraqi Soldiers have traveled to countries such as Serbia to train.
NATO’s training mission extends beyond Iraq. Stoltenberg noted that the fight against violent extremists requires well-trained militaries across the region.
“As our experience has shown, building local capacity is one of the best tools we have in the fight against terrorism,” the secretary-general said. “NATO continues to help strengthen the Afghan security forces. And we work with our partners like Jordan and Tunisia.” Source: NATO