ERBIL — On Monday, the United States-Iraq Higher Military Commission will commence discussions aimed at transitioning the international coalition forces from their original anti-Islamic State mission to a bilateral security partnership between the United States and Iraq.

Since its establishment in 2014, the global coalition, consisting of 86 member nations, has provided critical advisory support to Kurdish and Iraqi forces in their efforts against the remnants of the Islamic State. The coalition's collaborative efforts were instrumental in dismantling the IS self-proclaimed caliphate in 2017.

The ongoing series of meetings by the US-Iraq Higher Military Commission, starting Monday, will focus on reshaping the coalition's mission to prioritize direct cooperation between US and Iraqi security forces. This transition aims to strengthen joint efforts in counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and regional stability initiatives.

Ambassador Alina Romanowski, US Ambassador to Iraq, emphasized the significance of these upcoming discussions in charting the future course of U.S.-Iraqi security relations. The dialogue seeks to align strategic objectives that address mutual security concerns effectively while adapting to evolving regional dynamics.

"We start the US-Iraq Joint Security Cooperation Dialogue in D.C., where security officials from the U.S. and Iraq will discuss the future of the coalition mission and strengthen security cooperation between our nations," wrote Romanowski on her official X account ahead of the U.S.-Iraq Higher Military Commission's discussions.

As discussions unfold, stakeholders anticipate clarity on the strategic roadmap for transitioning the coalition's role and the expected outcomes of this bilateral security realignment. The initiative underscores a commitment to deepen collaboration in response to current geopolitical challenges and advance shared interests in security and stability.