WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — An Iraqi ship repair facility will receive technical support and spare parts to service US-origin Navy vessels in a deal approved by the US Department of State, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced in a press release on Tuesday.
"The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to provide for a stable, sovereign, and democratic Iraq, capable of combating terrorism and protecting its people and sovereignty," the release stated.
The vessels to be serviced in the $150-million contract include patrol boats, offshore support vessels, fast assault boats, and rigid-hull inflatable boats, the release explained.
Implementation of agreement will require annual trips to Iraq and in-country presence involving US government and contractor representatives for technical reviews, support and oversight for approximately three years, the release noted.
