Germany: Germany supports Iraq in its efforts to enhance stability and combat extremism, as stated by Magnus Obermann, the German Embassy First Secretary for Political and Cultural Affairs. Obermann emphasized Germany’s commitment to aiding Iraq in its fight against terrorism, particularly against groups like Daesh (ISIS), to bolster the region’s stability.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Obermann highlighted that Germany has been actively supporting Iraq since 2014, focusing on challenges posed by terrorist organizations. Germany has played a significant role in the stabilization process in Iraq, taking on leadership positions in various international coalitions aimed at defeating ISIS. Obermann noted Germany’s chairmanship of the Stabilization Task Force, which serves as the primary coordination mechanism for stabilization efforts in Iraq, as well as the civilian component of the Stabilization Working Group of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS established in September 2014.
The Stabilization Task Force has been instrumental in directing stabilization funding programs that aid in the reconstruction and economic rehabilitation of liberated areas, alongside efforts to reintegrate internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. Obermann stressed the importance of stabilization efforts following military victories, indicating that such initiatives are crucial for sustaining long-term success.
On the topic of preventing violent extremism, Obermann reiterated that combating and preventing violent extremism has become central to international stabilization strategies. He expressed pride in Germany’s support through GIZ, which has been implementing various projects in Iraq since 2016, including the current ‘Stabilisation Support in Iraq through Violence Prevention’ project.
Obermann noted a strategic shift from merely combating violent extremism to actively preventing it. He elaborated that preventing violence involves building resilient communities, countering hate speech and extremism online, fostering social integration, and providing economic opportunities, thereby reducing recruitment conditions for extremist groups. These efforts, according to Obermann, underline the importance of non-coercive methods in strengthening democratic and civil education.