ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi foreign ministry on Sunday handed Stephen Hitchen, the British ambassador to Baghdad, a protest note over comments the ministry deemed to be an “interference” in Iraq’s internal affairs.
The comments “touched on the security and political issue in a way that reflects a bleak picture of Iraq, its government, and components. The ministry considered this an interference in internal affairs and a departure from the diplomatic duties assigned to the Ambassador,” according to a statement from the ministry.
The ministry did not provide details about which comments it was referring to.
On an episode of Rudaw Media Network’s Bestoon Talk broadcasted on Thursday, Hitchen touched on the issues that arise from incorporating militias such as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) into the Iraqi government.
“The challenge for the Iraqi government is how to deal with the militias,” said the diplomat, “the decision to bring the militias into the government is logical, but if a PMF member receives salaries they must also accept commands.”
“A soldier does not have the right to say ‘I will follow this order, but not this one.’ This is not natural. It is not logical,” Hitchen said, stressing that the process to bring the militias under the command of the army and the prime minister may require a long time.
The PMF was formed when a group of militias responded to a call-to-arms from revered Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to stand against the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014. While the force has been officially incorporated into the Iraqi security apparatus, militias within their ranks operate outside of Baghdad’s control and receive support from Iran.
PMF-linked groups have launched over 165 attacks against bases housing personnel of the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria since October in condemnation of Washington’s support for Israel in its war on the Gaza Strip.
US forces have responded with several retaliatory strikes, killing dozens of PMF fighters. The strikes have been heavily condemned by the Iraqi government, which has called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from the country.
In response to a question on British businesses abandoning projects in Iraq, Hitchen said that British and other Western companies flourish under “secure environments and state of law.”
“There are some companies from other countries that may flourish in chaotic environments: bribes, threats, militias. That is not our natural environment. So, if Iraq wants investment from Western countries, it highly depends on protecting the investment,” he added.
“Sharing opportunities equals sharing challenges,” the statement from the foreign ministry cited Bakir Ahmed al-Jaff, head of the ministry’s Europe directorate, as saying while handing the protest note to Ruth Coverdale, Britain's charge d'affaires in Baghdad.
Iraq and the UK share strong relations.
The UK has helped train the Kurdish Peshmerga during the war on ISIS and is part of a team of international allies working on major reforms of the Peshmerga ministry. There are up to 1,400 British personnel in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq providing military assistance and advice to the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces.
The two countries signed a Strategic Partnership in 2021, aimed at increasing cooperation in economy, education, military and security, and other sectors.
