Foreign Affairs Minister Stresses the Importance of European Support for Iraq’s Efforts Regarding ISIS Detainees During Meeting with His German Counterpart

Foreign Affairs Minister Stresses the Importance of European Support for Iraq’s Efforts Regarding ISIS Detainees During Meeting with His German Counterpart

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein, met on Sunday, 15 February 2026, with the Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, H.E. Mr. Johann Wadephul, and his accompanying delegation, on the sidelines of the 62nd Munich Security Conference.

At the outset of the meeting, both sides commended the strength of bilateral relations between the Republic of Iraq and the Federal Republic of Germany and the level of joint cooperation in combating terrorism, as well as the mutual support at the political, economic, and cultural levels. They reaffirmed the two countries’ commitment to enhancing cooperation and mutual understanding on issues of common interest, both bilaterally and within international forums, in a manner that serves the interests of the two friendly peoples.

H.E. Mr. Fuad Hussein highlighted Iraq’s efforts to transfer ISIS terrorist detainees from Syria to Iraqi prisons, ensuring that they no longer pose a security threat to Iraq and the wider region. H.E. called on Germany and the European Union to provide the necessary support to Iraq, given the significant financial burdens it bears as a result of receiving more than 5,700 detainees to date, the majority of whom are of Arab, European, and other nationalities.

For his part, H.E. Mr. Wadephul praised the Iraqi government’s efforts in transferring ISIS terrorist detainees and affirmed that Germany will continue to provide support and assistance to Iraq in the security and development fields, as well as maintain ongoing political coordination and cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides also discussed the latest developments regarding the round of negotiations between the United States and Iran, and the upcoming round scheduled to be held in Geneva. They expressed their support for international mediation efforts and warned against the risks of sliding into a new conflict in the Middle East and the potential security and economic repercussions such a conflict could have on countries in the region and European states in particular.