U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and acting Iraqi Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dlimi signed an agreement Thursday on security and defense cooperation for the next five years, American Forces Press Service reports.Jim Garamone writes officials from the two countries met in Baghdad Thursday to discuss efforts aimed at helping stand up Iraq’s security capabilities and modernizing their forces.
James Miller, defense undersecretary for policy, and Rosse Gottemoeller, acting State undersecretary for international security, also attended the meeting of the Defense and Security Joint Coordination Committee, according to AFPS.
Discussions also covered U.S. foreign military sales agreements with Iraq, which include purchases of the Lockheed Martin F-16 jet and General Dynamics M-1 Abrams tank.
Iraq is buying 18 jets for nearly $199.3 million under a sale announced in July.
