BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the end of American combat operations Tuesday leaves his country independent and an equal to the United States.

He also assured his people their own security forces will protect them.

But the extent of U.S. influence in Iraq is still palpable. Vice President Joe Biden, presiding over the transition of the American role in Iraq, had meetings with political leaders and pushed them to break an impasse that has held up formation of a new government after elections in March.

Al-Maliki spoke ahead of President Barack Obama's address Tuesday night from the Oval Office to outline the withdrawal of combat forces.

"Through implementing the troop withdrawal agreement, our relations with the United States of America have entered into a new phase between two equal, sovereign states," he said.

"Iraq today is sovereign and independent," al-Maliki added, calling Aug. 31 an "immortal day."

The U.S. has deemed Tuesday the formal end of American combat missions in Iraq. Just under 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq — down from a peak of nearly 170,000 at the height of the military surge in 2007. Those troops will be focused on training and assisting the Iraqi military, and will no longer be allowed to go on combat missions unless requested and accompanied by Iraqi forces.