NATO TRAINING MISSION (NTM-I)

On 20 March 2003 a US-led coalition invaded Iraq and successfully completed its major combat operations on 1 May 2003. On 8 June 2004, the UN Security Council requested that member states and regional organisations such as NATO contribute assistance to meet the needs of the Iraqi people for security and stability plus humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. On 20 June 2004, the Iraqi Prime Minister asked the NATO Secretary-General for NATO help in training, equipping and providing other technical assistance to the Iraqi security forces. NATO Heads of State and Government responded favourably to this request at the Istanbul Summit on 28 June 2004, and on 30 July 2004, the NAC agreed to establish a NATO Training Implementation Mission in Iraq (NTIM-I). A small advance party left for Iraq on 7 August 2004, followed by the main party of 45 personnel in mid-August. Further political discussion in the NAC led to the decision to create a larger training mission to be known as the NATO Training Mission-Iraq (NTM-I). It replaced the initial NTIM-I on 9 October 2004.

The NTM-I delivered its training, advice and mentoring support in a number of different settings. All NATO member countries contributed to the training effort either in or outside of Iraq, through financial contributions or donations of equipment. In parallel and reinforcing this initiative, NATO also worked with the Iraqi government on a structured cooperation framework to develop the Alliance’s long-term relationship with Iraq.