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Lieutenant General Agüero Martínez, new NATO Commander-in-Chief, NATO Mission Iraq

In Baghdad, Iraq
May 25, 2023
  • He succeeds Italian Lieutenant General Giovanni Ianucci.

Lieutenant General José Antonio Agüero Martínez has assumed command of NATO Mission Iraq, taking over from Lieutenant General Giovanni Ianucci, who has held the post since May 2022.

The handover ceremony held in Baghdad was presided over by Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, commander of Joint Force Command Naples.

During his speech, Lieutenant General Agüero Martínez highlighted the collaboration of the Atlantic Alliance in the training of the Iraqi armed forces "our Iraqi partners have their own history, culture, organization and tradition. It is up to them to organize their national security framework; through the NATO Mission in Iraq we will continue to provide our advice, tailored to their needs". He thanked his predecessor for the good work done and for his willingness to continue with the objectives already initiated.

The NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI-Iraq) is a non-combat, advisory and capability development mission. Its main objective is to help Iraq build its security institutions and achieve a more sustainable and effective armed forces capable of stabilizing the country, fighting terrorism and preventing the return of Daesh. All activities carried out by NMI-Iraq have the consent of the Iraqi government and are conducted with full respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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