A senior Iraqi lawmaker has criticized Baghdad’s reliance on the United States for military capabilities, calling for an independent national decision to strengthen Iraq’s air defenses and boost domestic production of military equipment, including drones and missiles.

Jawad al-Saadi, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, said that continued subjection of Iraqi decision-making to US conditions would hinder the development of the country’s military capabilities and national defense industries, including air defense systems.

“Baghdad’s subservience to Washington will render Iraq incapable of developing or manufacturing any weapon, whether conventional or air defense systems. Even the simplest matters would compel Iraq to seek US consultation,” Saadi said.

He added, “Such subservience is illogical and unacceptable. Those who seek sovereignty should not surrender to the conditions of others, but rather rely on their own national capabilities and resources.”

Iraqi MP: Genuine sovereignty lies in independence in decision-making after US pullout

An Iraqi lawmaker says sovereignty depends on the government

The Iraqi lawmaker further noted that regional countries such as Iran and Yemen have managed, despite blockades and wars, to develop their military capabilities and establish new deterrence equations.

He pointed out that compliance with US conditions and adoption of hasty and unwise decisions, which undermine national Iraqi security, will not help the country achieve self-sufficiency.

Saadi finally stressed the need for the construction of arms factories on Iraqi soil to manufacture various types of weapons and develop defense systems, rather than to entirely depend on foreign suppliers.

US military presence ended in Iraq after 23 years. The last American troops left Erbil on September 30.

It marked the end of a military presence that began with the 2003 US invasion.

Washington first withdrew its forces in 2011. It returned in 2014 after Daesh seized large areas of Iraq.

Jomaa al-Atwani, an Iraqi researcher, says the US presence became a burden on Iraq. Atwani says Daesh was an international conspiracy to pave the way for the US return to the region.

For many Iraqis, the withdrawal marks a new chapter in the country’s sovereignty.