Iraqi Ground Forces Commander Lieutenant General Qasim Mohammed Saleh Al-Muhammadi attended a U.S. defense weapons exhibition in Washington on Friday, as part of efforts to examine recent advances in military equipment and technology.
In a statement, Iraq’s Ministry of Defense said Al-Muhammadi met with several ground forces commanders from around the world during the event and reviewed advanced weapons, military equipment, and technologies, including systems used in contemporary conflicts.
The ministry explained that the visit is intended to strengthen the Iraqi Army’s operational capabilities and modernize its armament and equipment in line with international developments in military technology.
Modernizing Iraq’s military arsenal has remained a key priority for successive governments since 2003. The need to strengthen the armed forces became more urgent after ISIS seized extensive territories across Iraq in 2014.
Although Iraq has acquired advanced U.S.-made military equipment, including F-16 fighter aircraft, continued reliance on American support for maintenance and ammunition supplies remains controversial among Iraqi political groups. Critics argue that these conditions could restrict the operational autonomy of military systems purchased with public funds.
Meanwhile, the provision of weapons and equipment to the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces remains a point of contention between Baghdad and Erbil. Kurdish officials say their forces are excluded from the federal Ministry of Defense’s armament programs, despite their role in Iraq’s national defense framework under the constitution.
