An open dialogue hosted by the Vision Foundation for Strategic Studies brought together a select group of military and security experts, political, legal, and constitutional specialists, as well as journalists. They discussed the political, economic, and military consequences that the withdrawal of US forces will leave behind on Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The open discussion was held on Thursday, August 13, 2026-  Dr. Ako Hama Karim, Head of the Analysis Department at the Vision Foundation, presented a seminar on the withdrawal of US forces and discussed its implications. He pointed out that this would result in significant harm to the Kurdistan Region and highlighted its negative economic impacts.

Some of the attendees discussed the US support and assistance to the Kurdistan Region, describing the withdrawal as detrimental to the region and noting that the departure of these forces is likely to create instability in the area.

The view of another segment of attendees was that what is happening is not a withdrawal, but rather a shift from a military presence to an economic presence and interests.