NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday he expected defence ministers to agree to an expanded mission, with more allied personnel working in more security institutions across Iraq. Earlier expansion plans were mainly in response to a demand by then-US President Donald Trump for NATO to do more in the Middle East. NATO will likely take over some of the training activities carried out by the US-led coalition against Islamic State. The allied mission, involving allies including Britain, Turkey and Denmark and led by a Danish commander, is seen as more acceptable to Iraqis than a US training force, diplomats said. Currently, the NATO mission only trains and advises members of the Iraqi security institutions and forces who are under the direct control of the Iraqi government.

Source: Egypt Independent February 16, 2021 11:03 UTC