NATO did not have a role in the decision to undertake the campaign to invade Iraq and consequently is not part of the International Stabilisation Force which has been in Iraq since May 2003. However, NATO has played a supporting role to two of its members in relation to this operation.

In 2003, Turkey invoked article 4 of the Washington Treaty, which dictates that the members will consult when one of them perceives a threat to its territorial integrity, political independence or security. Consequently, NATO deployed surveillance aircraft and missile defences to protect Turkey in the event of an attack. When Poland was about to take over the leadership of the Central South Command in Iraq in 2003, it requested assistance from the Alliance. NATO agreed to support Poland with force generation, communication, logistics and movements.

The Iraqi Interim Government asked NATO for help in 2004 with its military personnel training effort. NATO established the NATO Training Mission (NTM) in Iraq to which all NATO members are contributing through financial contributions or equipment donations. NATO is training and mentoring middle and senior ranking members of the Iraqi security forces at training establishments both inside and outside Iraq.