1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,000 2 00:00:11,870 --> 00:00:14,440 Well , good afternoon everyone . It is 3 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:18,000 great to be back in Baghdad today . And 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,260 I just wanted to say a few words about 5 00:00:20,270 --> 00:00:23,830 our ongoing work here . I just 6 00:00:23,830 --> 00:00:25,990 concluded a productive meeting with 7 00:00:26,710 --> 00:00:29,830 Prime Minister Soudani and Minister of 8 00:00:29,830 --> 00:00:33,820 Defense Abbasi . This was just 9 00:00:33,820 --> 00:00:36,650 the latest high level contact between 10 00:00:36,650 --> 00:00:39,590 our governments in all of these 11 00:00:39,590 --> 00:00:42,690 engagements underscore the US 12 00:00:42,690 --> 00:00:44,980 commitment to expanding our partnership 13 00:00:44,990 --> 00:00:47,850 with the people and the government of 14 00:00:47,850 --> 00:00:51,050 Iraq . We're deeply committed to 15 00:00:51,050 --> 00:00:53,500 ensuring that the Iraqi people can live 16 00:00:53,500 --> 00:00:57,090 in peace and dignity with 17 00:00:57,090 --> 00:01:00,600 safety and security and with 18 00:01:00,610 --> 00:01:03,230 economic opportunity for all . 19 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,620 Now , our defense cooperation against 20 00:01:07,620 --> 00:01:11,580 dash is a key pillar of 21 00:01:11,580 --> 00:01:14,310 our bilateral relationship 22 00:01:15,730 --> 00:01:18,020 and the United States remains committed 23 00:01:18,020 --> 00:01:21,670 to this fight in support of Iraq's 24 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,080 security and the security of the entire 25 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,700 region . Prime Minister Soudani and I 26 00:01:28,700 --> 00:01:30,790 both have reaffirmed that commitment 27 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,930 today . You know , just a few years ago , 28 00:01:33,930 --> 00:01:35,930 dash was marching , marching across 29 00:01:35,930 --> 00:01:39,400 Iraq , terrorizing its citizens and 30 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:42,530 threatening the stability of the entire 31 00:01:42,530 --> 00:01:45,920 region . In response , the United 32 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,140 States convened a global coalition of 33 00:01:48,150 --> 00:01:51,360 80 countries and that coalition 34 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,250 responded to the request of the 35 00:01:54,250 --> 00:01:57,120 sovereign government of Iraq to work 36 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,620 alongside them to defeat this ruthless 37 00:02:00,670 --> 00:02:02,730 terrorist enemy . 38 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:07,920 And we'll continue to listen to our 39 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,040 partners and rally together with them 40 00:02:11,050 --> 00:02:14,310 in this fight . We'll continue to 41 00:02:14,310 --> 00:02:16,254 harness the professionalism of the 42 00:02:16,254 --> 00:02:19,690 coalition's diplomats and 43 00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:23,370 assistance , experts and war fighters 44 00:02:24,290 --> 00:02:26,990 as well as the incredible professionals 45 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,580 in the NATO mission here will continue 46 00:02:30,580 --> 00:02:33,760 to increase interoperability among 47 00:02:33,770 --> 00:02:37,330 among our allies and partners . And 48 00:02:37,330 --> 00:02:40,030 we'll continue working to accomplish 49 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,750 this mission together through 50 00:02:43,750 --> 00:02:46,350 the global coalition to defeat Dash . 51 00:02:47,090 --> 00:02:50,850 We liberated more than 50,000 km2 52 00:02:50,860 --> 00:02:54,320 from Dash And we freed more than 53 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,130 4.5 million Iraqis from their 54 00:02:58,130 --> 00:03:01,270 cruel grip . Now , the United States 55 00:03:01,270 --> 00:03:04,090 security forces including the Kurdish 56 00:03:04,090 --> 00:03:07,970 Peshmerga have made huge strides in 57 00:03:07,970 --> 00:03:10,100 increasing their counterterrorism 58 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:14,010 capabilities and today they are 59 00:03:14,010 --> 00:03:17,200 in the lead but military action alone 60 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,160 won't ensure the enduring defeat of 61 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,600 Daesh . So let me recognize the Iraqi 62 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,180 government's ongoing repatriations of 63 00:03:27,190 --> 00:03:30,100 Iraqi citizens from northeast Syria 64 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:33,984 as I discussed with Prime Minister 65 00:03:33,984 --> 00:03:37,140 Soudani . Today , all countries with 66 00:03:37,140 --> 00:03:40,400 citizens in the detention facilities 67 00:03:40,410 --> 00:03:43,610 and displaced person camps in northeast 68 00:03:43,610 --> 00:03:46,670 Syria must take similar steps 69 00:03:47,610 --> 00:03:50,110 and the United States stands ready to 70 00:03:50,110 --> 00:03:52,700 continue supporting Iraq in all 71 00:03:52,700 --> 00:03:55,780 countries working to repatriate their 72 00:03:55,780 --> 00:03:59,350 citizens . Now , looking 73 00:03:59,350 --> 00:04:03,040 forward U S forces are ready to remain 74 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:05,970 in Iraq at the invitation of the 75 00:04:05,970 --> 00:04:08,900 government of Iraq . These forces are 76 00:04:08,900 --> 00:04:11,650 operating in a non combat advise , 77 00:04:11,650 --> 00:04:14,660 assist and enable role to support the 78 00:04:14,660 --> 00:04:17,190 Iraqi led fight against terrorism . 79 00:04:18,610 --> 00:04:20,890 This is a critical mission and we're 80 00:04:20,890 --> 00:04:23,510 proud to support our Iraqi partners . 81 00:04:24,580 --> 00:04:26,820 But we must be able to operate safely 82 00:04:26,820 --> 00:04:29,420 and securely to continue this vital 83 00:04:29,420 --> 00:04:32,320 work . So I want to thank Prime 84 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,420 Minister Soudani and Minister of 85 00:04:34,420 --> 00:04:36,660 Defense Abbasi for their commitment 86 00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:39,680 today to ensure that the coalition 87 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,020 forces in Iraq . At the Iraqi Iraqi 88 00:04:43,020 --> 00:04:46,360 government's request will be protected 89 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:48,820 from state and non state actors . 90 00:04:51,250 --> 00:04:53,083 We are focused on the mission of 91 00:04:53,083 --> 00:04:56,300 defeating dash . We are here for no 92 00:04:56,300 --> 00:04:59,690 other purpose and threats or attacks on 93 00:04:59,690 --> 00:05:03,480 our forces only undermine that mission . 94 00:05:05,190 --> 00:05:08,260 Now , we also talked today about the 95 00:05:08,260 --> 00:05:10,180 long term vision for our defense 96 00:05:10,180 --> 00:05:12,960 partnership with Iraq , which will out 97 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,940 Lash Dash . We continue to 98 00:05:16,940 --> 00:05:20,020 believe that Iraq's greater integration 99 00:05:20,020 --> 00:05:22,340 with its Arab partners in the region 100 00:05:22,350 --> 00:05:24,820 will deliver increased stability , 101 00:05:24,830 --> 00:05:28,810 security and prosperity and it will pay 102 00:05:28,810 --> 00:05:31,780 dividends not only for Iraqi citizens 103 00:05:31,790 --> 00:05:34,360 but for all people of the region . 104 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:37,604 So I look forward to continuing to 105 00:05:37,604 --> 00:05:40,260 consult with our valued Iraqi partners 106 00:05:40,970 --> 00:05:43,690 and to advance our shared interests and 107 00:05:43,690 --> 00:05:45,579 to improve the lives of the Iraqi 108 00:05:45,579 --> 00:05:49,300 people . I am optimistic 109 00:05:49,310 --> 00:05:52,660 about the future of our partnership and 110 00:05:52,660 --> 00:05:54,604 the United States will continue to 111 00:05:54,604 --> 00:05:57,580 strengthen and broaden our partnership 112 00:05:57,590 --> 00:06:00,240 in support of Iraqi security , 113 00:06:00,250 --> 00:06:03,450 stability and sovereignty . So once 114 00:06:03,450 --> 00:06:05,880 again , I want to express my gratitude 115 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,440 to Prime Minister Soudani and Minister 116 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,320 of Defense Abbasi Abbasi for their 117 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:14,690 hospitality today . And again , it's 118 00:06:14,690 --> 00:06:17,360 really good to be back in Iraq . Thanks 119 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:17,870 everyone .