Iraq and the United States have agreed to establish a High Joint Coordination Committee to strengthen bilateral cooperation across security, political and economic areas.
The decision was announced following the committee’s first meeting on Thursday.
Both sides agreed to intensify coordination to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure that Iraqi territory is not used as a base for attacks against Iraqi citizens, security forces, infrastructure, or international partners.
The statement also highlighted commitments to:
- Maintain Iraq’s neutrality amid ongoing regional conflict
- Respect Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
- Ensure Iraqi territory, airspace and waters are not used to threaten neighbouring states
- Protect diplomatic missions and coalition personnel operating in Iraq
Full text of statement:
Joint Statement on the Establishment of a U.S.-Iraq High Joint Coordination Committee
Within the framework of the strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States of America, and over many years of friendship and joint strategic cooperation in the political, economic, and security fields — culminating in joint efforts to defeat ISIS — it was decided to establish a High Joint Coordination Committee.
Yesterday, March 26, 2026, at the first meeting of the High Joint Coordination Committee, the Iraqi and U.S. sides decided to intensify cooperation to prevent terrorist attacks and ensure that Iraqi territory is not used as a launching point for any aggression against the Iraqi people, the Iraqi Security Forces, Iraqi strategic facilities and assets, as well as against U.S. personnel, diplomatic missions, and the Global Coalition.
Both sides emphasized their commitment to keeping Iraq outside the scope of the ongoing military conflict in the region, fully respecting its sovereignty, and supporting Iraq in ensuring its territory, airspace, and territorial waters cannot be used to threaten Iraq, or neighboring and regional states.
The two sides affirmed their renewed commitment to coordinating counterterrorism efforts in a manner that prioritizes Iraqi action to achieve the shared objectives in a manner that preserves stability and safeguards Iraq’s sovereignty.
