America has long been a leader in innovation and opportunity. Iraq is ready to match that leadership with its resources, its youth and its determination, writes Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani (pictured). REUTERS

For decades, security concerns shaped relations between Iraq and the United States almost exclusively.

Long wars, the fight against terrorism and heavy sacrifices on both sides left deep marks.

Yet Iraq today is no longer the country it was 20 years ago.

Our armed forces are stronger, our institutions more mature, and — thanks to cooperation with the United States and the international coalition — we are increasingly capable of defending our sovereignty.

The gradual reduction of coalition troops is not a retreat but a reflection of Iraq’s growing confidence and its willi

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