Commenting on the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi to Moscow, State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said that the US administration is not worried about Iraq's purchase of weapons and military equipment from Russia.
of Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi to Moscow, State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said that the US administration is not worried about Iraq's purchase of weapons and military equipment from Russia."Iraq certainly has the right to pursue military equipment from Russia and a variety of countries to fulfill their legitimate defense needs," TASS cited her as saying.According to the State Department spokesperson, the head of the Iraqi government "continues to expand relationships with other countries around the world."The American diplomat noted that Russia is not a part of the coalition that the United States has created to counter Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. However, US officials have long said that "every country can play a role in degrading and defeating IS," Harf reminded.
"Iraq certainly has the right to pursue military equipment from Russia and a variety of countries to fulfill their legitimate defense needs," TASS cited her as saying.
According to the State Department spokesperson, the head of the Iraqi government "continues to expand relationships with other countries around the world."
The American diplomat noted that Russia is not a part of the coalition that the United States has created to counter Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. However, US officials have long said that "every country can play a role in degrading and defeating IS," Harf reminded.
In addition, the State Department spokesperson noted that the US and Iraq have a "long, growing, very large FMS sales program" of weapons and military equipment to Baghdad. Moreover, "we provide things to Iraq that no one else can," Harf said.
