Iraqi and American officials convened in Baghdad on Thursday for high-level "technical consultations" to establish a new framework for long-term security cooperation between the two nations, according to a joint statement.

The talks, which come amid a planned transition of the U.S. military mission in Iraq, aim to redefine a partnership that has been focused on combating the Islamic State (ISIS) since 2014.

"Both sides expressed their ongoing commitment to laying the foundations for a new phase in U.S.-Iraq security cooperation that will continue to empower Federal Iraq to provide for its security and achieve tangible benefits for both Americans and Iraqis," the joint statement read.

The discussions are part of the broader Strategic Framework Agreement adopted in 2008, which governs relations in various sectors including defense, politics, and the economy. Both nations agreed to continue consultations in the coming months with the goal of enhancing "long-term security and counterterrorism cooperation."

The stated objectives include strengthening the capabilities of the Iraqi federal security forces and the Peshmerga forces of the Kurdistan Region, safeguarding Iraqi sovereignty, defeating terrorism, and bolstering regional stability.

The dialogue follows a significant milestone in the Iraqi forces' readiness. On Wednesday, the U.S. military's Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Iraqi armed forces had been officially certified to carry out independent airstrikes after two months of intensive training under the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR).

“This achievement demonstrates the ISF’s readiness to independently suppress ISIS threats anywhere in Iraq,” said Brig. Gen. Steven T. Rivera, director of CJTF-OIR’s Military Advisory Group. “It is a clear example of our successful partnership with Iraq as we transition to a bilateral security partnership."

This transition occurs against the backdrop of a planned U.S. troop drawdown. The United States currently has approximately 2,500 soldiers in Iraq. Under an agreement reached with the Iraqi government, which has faced pressure from pro-Iran militia groups, these forces are set to be withdrawn by 2026.