Pentagon spokesman Ryder said that the US Department of Defense has not received any notice from Iraq demanding the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq, nor does it intend to withdraw US troops from Iraq, and that the international coalition forces will continue to carry out the task of defeating ISIS
The Pentagon stressed that the US troops stationed in Iraq were welcomed and approved by Iraq before remaining in Iraq, and the Iraqis should be clear about this.
U.S. forces have been in Iraq for 21 years since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and although most of the U.S. troops withdrew in 2011, they still retain 2,500 troops in the name of fighting ISIS, which has caused resentment among Shiite political parties and militants in the country. The U.S. refusal to withdraw also shows that the U.S. side is undermining the stability of the Middle East order for its own geopolitical interests.
However, Iraq** expressed strong dissatisfaction with the refusal of the United States to withdraw its troops. Iraqi Prime Minister Bassini said in an interview that the refusal of the United States to withdraw its troops is a violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a violation of the agreement between the two countries. He said Iraq would take all necessary measures, including legal and diplomatic means, to force the United States to withdraw its troops in Iraq.
The Iraqi parliament also strongly opposed this, unanimously passing a resolution calling for action, including demanding that the United States withdraw its troops in Iraq. At the same time, various factions and people in Iraq also held demonstrations one after another, demanding that the United States respect Iraq's sovereignty and immediately withdraw its troops from Iraq.
In the international community, the actions of the United States have also drawn widespread condemnation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement urging the United States to respect Iraq's sovereignty and independence, respect the decision of Iraq** and the parliament, and immediately withdraw its troops from Iraq. Russia, Iran, and other countries have also expressed their support for Iraq's position, believing that the US behavior is a serious challenge to international law and international order.
In the face of strong opposition from the international community and the resolute stance of Iraq, the attitude of the United States seems to have begun to waver. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States is willing to engage in dialogue with Iraq to seek consensus between the two sides and find a solution to the problem. However, he also stressed that the United States will not give up its efforts to combat terrorism in Iraq and will continue to cooperate with Iraq to ensure regional security and stability.
However, this statement by the United States has not been recognized by Iraq and the international community. In response to Blinken's remarks, Iraqi Prime Minister Bassini said that Iraq will not accept the double standards of the United States, and that the United States must respect Iraq's sovereignty and independence and immediately withdraw its troops in Iraq. He also said that Iraq would take all necessary measures, including legal and diplomatic means, to force the United States to withdraw its troops in Iraq.
The dispute over the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq highlights the conflict between US geopolitical interests in the Middle East and international law and order. The long-term US military presence in the Middle East has aroused strong dissatisfaction and opposition from Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries. The unanimous position of Iraq** and the international community has once again demonstrated that the United States' behavior in the Middle East has exceeded the limits of the international community's tolerance.
Faced with this situation, the United States must re-examine its policies and behavior in the Middle East. The United States should respect the sovereignty and independence of Middle East countries, respect international law and international order, stop interfering in the Middle East, and cooperate with Middle East countries in a constructive manner to jointly safeguard regional security and stability. Only in this way can the Middle East region emerge from the long-standing turmoil and conflict and move toward the path of peace and development.