SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Prime Minister of Iraq seeks to reinforce airspace security by discussing purchasing military aircraft from private French firms.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani at the sidelines of his official visit to France met with representatives of several major French firms on Friday in Paris specializing in manufacturing aircraft, military jets, and technology including radars.
Sudani discussed providing Iraq with radars and military aircraft with the French firms, according to the state news agency (INA).
The Prime Minister seeks to secure Iraqi airspace from “unauthorized flights” by purchasing France-manufactured military equipment.
Sudani and the French firms have also highlighted the reinforcement of the Iraqi army’s air force power with combat helicopters.
INA reported that by these steps Iraq wants to increase the efficiency of security forces’ efforts to combat the remnants of Islamic State (ISIS) militants and to protect its borders.
ISIS terror group declared territorial defeat in 2017. However, its members still roam in areas of northern Iraq and northeastern Syria. They are capable of carrying out insurgent-style attacks.
Moreover, the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Sudani on Thursday signed a set of “strategic agreements” meant to boost Iraq’s economic cooperation with Paris, especially in the energy and public transportation sectors.
