President Donald Trump said Tuesday the United States no longer believes it needs a military presence in Iraq, arguing Iran has been weakened enough for Baghdad to stand on its own as the U.S.-led coalition mission approaches its planned Sept. 30 conclusion.
\nIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi echoed that vision, declaring that armed factions operating outside state control would have \u201cno justification\u201d once the coalition mission concludes and insisting Iraq\u2019s security forces would be capable of protecting the country on their own. Al-Zaidi said limiting weapons to the state was \u201ca decision, not an option.\u201d
\nTrump said the U.S. partnership with Iraq would shift away from military cooperation toward investment and energy development, while al-Zaidi said: \u201cThe 30th of September, the U.S. forces would be out of Iraq. While U.S. companies will be inside Iraq.\u201d
\nTRUMP ADMIN WARNS IRAQ OVER IRAN TERROR PROXIES AS US REPORTEDLY BLOCKS CASH PAYMENTS<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t think we need the military there anymore,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe\u2019re there to help them. We\u2019re there to protect them if need be. But we don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to be necessary.\u201d\u00a0
\nHe argued Iraq\u2019s security environment had fundamentally changed because Iran had been \u201cvery much destabilized\u201d and its military was now \u201cjust a tiny fraction\u201d of what it had been four months ago.
\nThe remarks underscore a remarkable shift for a country once synonymous with roadside bombs, sectarian violence and the fight against ISIS. More than two decades after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the Trump administration is publicly arguing the security environment has improved enough to replace a military partnership with an economic one, pointing to billions of dollars in planned U.S. energy investments as evidence American companies are now willing to do business where American troops once fought.
\nIran has long exercised influence in Iraq through political parties and powerful militias within the Popular Mobilization Forces, many of which have operated alongside \u2014 but outside \u2014 the Iraqi security apparatus. Washington has for years pressed Baghdad to bring those groups fully under state control.
\nHOW IRAN ATTACKS ARE FORCING THE PENTAGON TO RETHINK ITS DECADES-OLD MIDDLE EAST BASE STRATEGY
\nUnder a 2024 agreement, the U.S. and Iraq agreed to end the American-led coalition\u2019s military mission in Iraq starting in September 2025. While U.S. forces drew down from several bases, American troops have remained in the country in an advisory role and to support counter-ISIS operations tied to neighboring Syria.<\/p>\n
About 2,500 U.S. troops remained in Iraq prior to the beginning of the drawdown in September 2025, down from a peak of about 170,000 during 2007 at the height of the Iraq war. Nearly all U.S. forces departed in 2011 before about 5,000 returned in 2014 to fight ISIS.
\nAl-Zaidi, a businessman and political newcomer, took office this year after emerging as a consensus candidate following months of political deadlock. Trump publicly backed his candidacy and opposed the return of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom the administration viewed as too closely aligned with Iran.
\nDuring Tuesday\u2019s Oval Office meeting, Trump repeatedly praised al-Zaidi, calling him \u201ca great leader\u201d and predicting his influence would extend \u201call throughout the Middle East.\u201d Trump also claimed he had \u201cplayed a role\u201d in al-Zaidi\u2019s rise to power and said his endorsement helped propel the Iraqi leader to victory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"