NMI Commander calls on NATO to focus on Iraq due to Russia’s growing influence

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Italian General, Giovanni Iannucci, who is the commander of the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI), told the Italian daily newspaper, La Repubblica, that NATO should focus on Iraq because of Russia’s growing influence.

Iannucci explained that Iraq is one of the most difficult countries for NATO, as the influence of Moscow and Tehran is constantly increasing, and on the other hand, there is a limited military unit in Iraq for NATO.

According to Iannucci, the organization’s moves aim to avoid old mistakes occurred in the region.

Iannucci, who has been leading the NATO mission in Iraq since last September, explained that there is a completely new model for working within NATO.

“We cooperate with local authorities and avoid talking about stances that might indicate attempts by the West to intervene militarily in the affairs of this country,” Iannucci stated.

The American forces and their allies invaded Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein’s regime, which Washington accused of having links to international terrorism and possession of chemical weapons, but this information was not confirmed later.

Since then, NATO forces in Iraq have been reduced, but parts of the NATO mission remain there for advising and training purposes.