Patrick Durrant | Sydney
Over the weekend Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has conducted a snap tour of Australian troops working as part of Operations OKRA and HIGHROAD in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The PM also conducted meetings with Iraqi PM Haider Al-abadi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, the latter accepting PM Turnbull's offer to visit Australia later this year.
Meanwhile Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne is preparing to visit France for a counter-Daesh meeting with her counterparts from the US, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.
Coalition efforts have been bolstered by the recent defeat by Iraqi ground troops and Coalition air forces of Daesh forces in and around the city of Ramadi in central Iraq. During his visit PM Turnbull called on European countries to step up their efforts in order to take advantage of the recent gains. To date, many NATO countries have had a very modest involvement in the Middle East, although Italy could surpass Australia's effort (currently the largest after the US) if recent pledges are upheld.
Troops trained by Australian and NZ soldiers of Task Group Taji stationed just north of Baghdad are preparing to assault the major Daesh stronghold of Mosul in northern Iraq and appear confident, though seizing the much larger Kurdish city will present a far greater challenge.
Turnbull proceeded to the US for talks with Defence Secretary Ashton Carter as well as the traditional wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington.
In talks conducted at the Pentagon, Carter and Turnbull discussed recent developments in Iraq and Syria, and the need to continue close collaboration on security issues in the Asia-Pacific region. Carter expressed appreciation for Australia’s contributions to the counter-Daesh coalition, as well as Australia’s continued support in Afghanistan. Carter said he looks forward to Australia’s participation in the counter-Daesh coalition meeting to be attended by Minister Payne on January 20, in Paris.
PM Turnbull will meet with US President Barack Obama on Wednesday.