policy
Amidst rapid regional developments and ongoing tensions across the Middle East, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein held extensive talks with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. The meeting took place on Friday, October 16, 2026, at the Italian Ministry of Defense headquarters in Rome, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and develop joint cooperation in military and security fields. The Italian minister welcomed his Iraqi counterpart, emphasizing the strength and continuous development of ties between Baghdad and Rome across various sectors, while the Iraqi minister expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and his pleasure at meeting again. The discussions focused extensively on evaluating the role of the international coalition against terrorism, the prominent contributions of Italian forces in operations to defeat ISIS, and their ongoing efforts to train the Iraqi armed forces and Peshmerga to enhance their military and security capabilities. Both sides stressed the necessity of continuing joint coordination to confront terrorist threats and prevent any attempts by remnants of ISIS to regroup. Minister Crosetto described Iraq as a fundamental pillar for regional stability, emphasizing his country's readiness to provide continuous support to Iraq whenever requested, and reviewing advanced training programs and military courses hosted by Italian institutions for Iraqi and Peshmerga officers. For his part, Fuad Hussein appreciated the practical and effective partnership between the two countries in combating terrorism, emphasizing that the formation of the international coalition responded to Iraq's urgent need for assistance, and that ongoing cooperation remains essential to eradicate terrorism wherever it exists. He explained that ISIS still poses an ideological threat and maintains sleeper cells in some areas, but Iraqi forces have acquired vast field experience to counter these threats. In another regional context, the two sides addressed the repercussions of ongoing conflicts and their impacts on the region and Europe, with Fuad Hussein stressing that Iraq does not seek war but rather supports all pathways leading to peace, noting the complexities of efforts to de-escalate tensions, particularly between Washington and Tehran. The two sides also discussed the economic ramifications of regional crises and addressed several pending armament files dating back to the previous regime, emphasizing the importance of resolving them to serve the mutual interests of both friendly nations.
