Defense relationship part of US-Iraq talks in Washington next week, US official says

The security and defense relationship between the United States and Iraq will be an important part of talks when Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits Washington next week but is not the primary focus of the visit, a senior State Department official said on Thursday.

The official, who briefed reporters ahead of the visit on condition of anonymity, said talks between the two countries were likely to lead to a second joint security cooperation dialogue later this year.