FM Discusses Enhancing Iraq’s Participation in International Peacekeeping Operations with UN Official

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Fuad Hussein, received on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Baghdad. During the meeting, the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation between Iraq and the United Nations and enhancing Iraq’s contribution to international peacekeeping operations.

The Minister affirmed Iraq’s commitment to entering a new phase of partnership with the United Nations following the conclusion of the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with a view to strengthening Iraq’s role in supporting international peace and security.

The Minister expressed Iraq’s interest in expanding its participation in peacekeeping operations and utilizing Iraqi military and security expertise in counterterrorism, mine clearance, and the management of explosive remnants of war, proposing developing a joint roadmap and dispatching a UN technical team to Baghdad to assess Iraq’s capabilities and identify areas for cooperation, training, and capacity building.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of expanding the participation of Iraqi professionals in UN missions and programmes, as well as exploring the possibility of developing an Iraqi training institution into a regional centre for exchanging expertise and providing training in fields related to peacekeeping operations.