The US military presence in Iraq is about to end after almost 23 years. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has announced that all US troops will leave Iraq by September 30. He gave this information during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington. During the meeting at the White House, President Trump said that the United States no longer feels the need to maintain military forces in Iraq. He said his administration believes there is no need for US military presence there at this time.
The US began a military campaign in Iraq in 2003, and thousands of American troops have been deployed there since then. Their numbers have been continuously decreasing in recent years. Until recently, there were about 2,500 US troops in Iraq, primarily helping in the campaign against the Islamic State (ISIS). However, the number of troops has been further reduced in the last few months. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said that following the withdrawal of US troops, his government would take tough action against armed groups within the country. He clarified that after September 30, no organization or group will be allowed to possess weapons or carry out independent military activities.
**Hints of big agreements between America and Iraq**
“US troops will withdraw on September 30 and will be replaced by US companies,” Ali al-Zaidi said. This statement shows that the focus of relations between the two countries will move from military cooperation to strengthening economic and trade ties. The main purpose of Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to the US was to promote US investment in Iraq’s oil, gas and energy sectors. Many important issues related to economic cooperation were discussed between the two leaders. During the meeting in the Oval Office, the Iraqi Prime Minister hinted at a new economic partnership between the two countries and said that major trade and investment agreements could be signed between the US and Iraq in the near future.
**US military power**
American military power is not limited to its own borders; Its presence is in many parts of the world. America maintains military bases from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Through these bases, the US ensures the security of its allies, protects its global strategic interests and conducts military operations. In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan is considered America’s most important military ally. There are major US military bases in Japan such as Yokosuka, Kadena, Futenma and Misawa, where more than 50,000 American troops are deployed. These bases are the mainstay of American strategic power in East Asia and the Pacific.
US military presence in Europe
The US also maintains a strong military presence in South Korea, with major bases such as Camp Humphreys, Osan Air Base and Kunsan Air Base. In view of the potential threat from North Korea, America has deployed a large number of troops there for a long time. In addition, the United States has military access to the Philippines, Australia, Guam, and several islands in the Pacific Ocean, where it regularly conducts military exercises and strategic operations. In Europe, Germany is the main center of US military presence; Ramstein Air Base is considered one of America’s most important foreign military bases. There are also several other military bases in Germany, which house thousands of American soldiers. Apart from Germany, the US also maintains a strong military presence in Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Romania and other NATO member states. It is estimated that about 68,000 US troops are deployed in Europe.
