US forces are set to exit Iraq after 2 decades. Reuters reports 2,500 troops in Iraq will withdraw from last two bases in Baghdad, moving to Erbil in Kurdistan region by December 2026. Mission started 2003 invasion.
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Pentagon says ISIS is degraded, Iraqi forces can handle. Critics say vacuum will be filled by Iran-backed militias. For US, it is pivot to Indo-Pacific, reducing Middle East footprint.
For India, Iraq is second largest oil supplier, and hosts 20,000 Indian workers. Stability in Iraq matters for remittances and energy. India also imports 80% of its dates from Iraq.
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Analysts say US exit mirrors Afghanistan 2021 but more managed. Iraq government wants US out, but also fears ISIS resurgence. The move frees US resources for Taiwan Strait and Ukraine.
Tags: #USIraq #USWithdrawal #MiddleEast #IraqWar #ISIS #Oil #IndianDiaspora #Geopolitics #Pentagon #Kurdistan