Spanish King Felipe VI Pays Surprise Visit to Iraq

Date: 30 January 2019 - 21:01

News ID: ۶۲۶۹۶

BAGHDAD (Dispatches) – Spanish King Felipe VI arrived Wednesday in a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad and met with Iraqi President Barham Salih, the official television reported.
Salih received the Spanish king at his office in the Green Zone in central Baghdad and they discussed bilateral ties, state-run Iraqiya channel said.
According to media reports, the king is also expected to visit the Spanish troops stationed at a military base near Baghdad.
Casa Real released several images after the king’s arrival in the Middle Eastern country.
Margarita Robles, the Minister of Defense, accompanied him on the trip. The trip was kept secret for security reasons.
The king is due to meet with the head of NATO training, David Fortin of the UK, as well as U.S. Lieutenant General Paul J. Lacamera who is the commander of the military coalition.
This is the first time King Felipe has visited Iraq, but it is not the first time he has visited Spanish troops in a foreign country as King. The last time was in 2015 when he travelled to Lebanon. Most Spanish troops are stationed in Lebanon; the number of Spanish forces in Iraq is slightly lower.
Spanish troops arrived in Iraq four years ago as part of a coalition of 60 countries led by the United States. The ‘Inherent Resolve’ was agreed upon in 2014 a NATO Summit in Wales to combat ISIS.