Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with President Obama at the White House Monday as the U.S. military continues its withdrawal from Iraq. Obama assured Baghdad on Monday the United States would remain a strong partner after the pullout concludes.

President Barack Obama: "Mr. Prime Minister, as we end this war and as Iraq faces its future, the Iraqi people must know that you will not stand alone. You have a strong and enduring partner in the United States of America. And so, today the prime minister and I are reaffirming our common vision of a long-term partnership between our nations. This is in keeping with our strategic framework agreement, and it will be like the close relationships we have with other sovereign nations."

While the United States is pulling its troops out of Iraq, it will maintain close military ties to Iraq and will operate the largest embassy in the world in Baghdad. The U.S. mission will include up to 16,000 people nationwide, including thousands of private mercenaries. President Obama used Prime Minister Maliki’s visit to notify Congress of the administration’s intent to sell Iraq 18 more F-16 fighter jets. Maliki also spoke of the U.S.-Iraq relationship after the military pullout.

Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi prime minister: "Anyone who observes the nature of the relationship between the two countries will say that the relationship will not end with the departure of the last American soldier."