Speaking at the annual forum organized by think tank Middle East Research Institute (MERI) in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region’s capital Erbil, Gavito said Washington was “doubling down” on its investment in the region and had “no intention of dropping our commitments to the people of the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government)”, news website Kurdistan 24 reported.

“It is really important to say this: Iraq is not Afghanistan,” Gavito said, adding that Washington saw Iraq as a “key strategic relationship and key strategic partner”.

The United States’ commitment was “clear” from the “enormous investment” that is the new consulate building under construction in the Kurdish capital, Gavito said, in response to a panelist questioning Washington’s loyalty to its allies, Kurdistan 24 said.

“We remain committed to the fight and the ongoing development of Iraqi security forces, including the Peshmerga,” she said, citing Kurdish troops by name. According to the deputy assistant secretary, Washington is transitioning by the year’s end to “strictly advising, assisting and enabling” as part of the international coalition against ISIS.

The United States works with both the Iraqi central government and the KRG in partnership, she said, “to support a stable, sovereign, prosperous and democratic country”.

U.S. troops started to withdraw from Iraq after the country’s council of representatives voted in favor of the Iraqi government expelling all foreign forces on its soil in 2020. In September last year, the U.S. military announced intentions to reduce the number of troops in the country to 3,000.

In April this year, head of the U.S. Central Command Marine General Frank McKenzie said there was no intention of withdrawing the last 2,500 troops, and that the campaign against ISIS would continue.

“Transitioning the Iraqi army away from combat operations does not mean we are leaving Iraq. We have seen that the capacity of Iraqi security has improved, so we’re standing by but ready to assist,” news website National News cited Gavito as saying.

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