President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States no longer deems a military presence in Iraq necessary, asserting that Iran has been sufficiently weakened for Baghdad to maintain its own security as Washington prepares to conclude its coalition mission later in 2026. Trump made these remarks during a bilateral meeting at the White House with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Zaidi.
Al-Zaidi echoed Trump's sentiment, stating that armed factions operating outside state control would lack justification once the coalition mission ends. He expressed confidence in Iraq's security forces' ability to protect the country independently, describing the limitation of weapons to state control as a definitive decision. The Prime Minister characterized the transition as a shift where "U.S. forces will be out of Iraq. U.S. companies will be inside Iraq."
Trump indicated that the partnership between the U.S. and Iraq would evolve from military cooperation to a focus on investment and energy development. "We don't think we need the military there anymore," Trump stated. "We're there to help them. We're there to protect them if need be. But we don't think that's going to be necessary."
He attributed this change in security dynamics to the significant destabilization of Iran, whose military, Trump claimed, is now a fraction of its strength from four months prior. This represents a notable shift for Iraq, a country that has grappled with widespread violence and the fight against ISIS. The Trump administration's stance suggests a belief that the security environment has improved sufficiently to transition from a military partnership to an economic one, citing planned U.S. energy investments as a sign of American companies' willingness to engage in Iraq.
Iran has historically exerted influence in Iraq through political entities and militias, many of which operate independently of the Iraqi security apparatus. The U.S. has consistently urged Baghdad to integrate these groups under state authority. The U.S. and Iraq had previously agreed in 2024 to end the American-led coalition's military mission in Iraq starting in September 2025. While U.S. forces have drawn down from several bases, a contingent has remained in an advisory capacity and to support counter-ISIS operations related to Syria.
Prior to the drawdown beginning in September 2025, approximately 2,500 U.S. troops were stationed in Iraq. This number is a significant decrease from a peak of around 170,000 troops in 2007 during the Iraq War. Most U.S. forces departed in 2011, with about 5,000 returning in 2014 to combat ISIS.
Al-Zaidi, who assumed office this year following a period of political deadlock, received public backing from Trump, who opposed the return of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki due to his perceived alignment with Iran. Trump praised al-Zaidi during the meeting, calling him "a great leader" and suggesting his influence could extend throughout the Middle East, while also asserting his own role in supporting al-Zaidi's rise to power.