Iraq to Request NATO’s Support in Increasing Defense Capacity

According to the press release published on NATO's official website Wednesday, the Iraqi government is sending a request to NATO for defence capacity building support.

MOSCOW, December 3 (Sputnik) — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced plans to request NATO's assistance in building security capacity, the press statement published on NATO's official website said Wednesday.

"Prime Minister al-Abadi informed the Secretary General that the Iraqi government is sending a request to NATO for defence capacity building support," the statement said.

According to the press release, "the Alliance will consider assistance to Iraq in the framework of NATO's Defence and Related Security Capacity Building initiative."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi in Brussels Wednesday to discuss political and security issues as well as the NATO-Iraq partnership.

Stoltenberg assured Abadi of NATO's commitment to the continued partnership and support in reestablishing security and stability in Iraq.

The statement says the cooperation between the two sides includes "political dialogue, education and training, response to terrorism, defence institution building, border security and communications."

The NATO chief also praised the formation of an inclusive government in Iraq and stressed the necessity for the country to be united in order to counter the threat represented by Islamic State militants.

The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is a Sunni extremist group formed in 2006. Since 2012, the group has been fighting the Syrian government. In June 2014, the IS extended its attacks on Iraq, proclaiming caliphate on the captured territories.