Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday that his country would keep a large military presence in Iraq to support the Middle Eastern nation in its fight against Islamist insurgency
ROME (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 28th June, 2021) Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday that his country would keep a large military presence in Iraq to support the middle Eastern nation in its fight against Islamist insurgency.
He spoke at the opening of a meeting in Rome, which is hosting foreign ministers from the 83-nation coalition combating the Islamic State terror group (IS, banned in Russia) in Iraq and Syria.
"IS was defeated in its territory but it was not rooted out. Italy maintains a 800-strong presence between Iraq and Kuwait, and it will retain a significant military contingent," Di Maio said.
The diplomat added that Italy would look to increase participation in NATO Mission Iraq after it takes command of the non-combat, training and capacity-building mission from Denmark in 2022.
