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Iraq needs a new kind of partnership with the United States
Iraq 04/14/2024
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• Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani
• Translated by: Anis Al-Saffar
Two decades ago, the United States helped the Iraqi people overthrow the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein and lay the foundations for building a democratic system, enabling Iraqis to taste freedom for the first time and eliminating the oppression and misuse of resources that had caused problems not only for my country but also for the region more broadly. Since then, US-Iraqi relations have witnessed ebbs and flows, and have passed through periods of partnership and harmony and periods of separation and discontinuity, as the positions between the two parties converged and paralleled at times, only to return to tensions at other times. But along the way, there was a common realization between the leaders of the two countries that our relationship will remain a strategic priority, dedicated to common interests and cooperative efforts to overcome difficulties. Together we were able to defeat terrorism, and our security cooperation enabled us to rebuild the Iraqi army and highly efficient security forces.
Today, we need to protect our strategic partnership by moving it to a new stage... a stage that supports Iraq's sovereignty and independence without abandoning the fruitful cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. At the end of last January, we formed together the “Supreme Military Committee,” composed of senior military officials from both the American and Iraqi sides, to work on assessing the current threat posed by ISIS terrorist gangs, the capabilities of the Iraqi security services, and the operational conditions in all parts of the country. This effort resulted in an agreement by all concerned stakeholders to put an end to the international coalition in a gradual and orderly manner according to an agreed upon timetable (the aforementioned coalition was formed at the invitation of Iraq in 2014 to fight ISIS, and it includes 86 countries led by the United States). In order to move forward, the Supreme Military Committee will work on developing a road map for future relations, including the presence of American advisors. These moves, rather than being an indication of a decline in the level of our relations with the United States, will allow us to move to a new phase of our partnership based on cooperation that goes beyond mere security and military affairs.
Delicate balance
The US-Iraqi relationship is the key to stability in the Middle East, as well as to the prosperity of the peoples of the region. During recent years, tensions have erupted from time to time between our two countries as a result of the conflict with the armed groups that have been present in Iraq over the past two decades. These groups emerged from the complex circumstances that Iraq faced while confronting terrorism, but little by little, and with the restoration of security and stability, the need for weapons outside the control of the state and its institutions will disappear, and we are working in concert towards this goal.
Iraq has a long road ahead full of challenges, and my government is aware of the sensitivity of its position and the delicate balance it must maintain between the United States and the groups that sometimes throw themselves into direct conflict with American forces. However, our vision regarding this situation is clear and unambiguous: we reject attacks launched on American interests in Iraq or in neighboring countries. At the same time, we need time to deal with internal complications and reach political understandings with the various parties, and the decision on war and peace must be a matter confined to the state alone, and no other party can claim this right.
With the help of its friends - especially the United States - Iraq was able to defeat the most ferocious terrorist organization in modern history. Today, only small fragments remain of ISIS, which our security forces are pursuing in the deserts, mountains, and caves, but they no longer pose a threat to the state. This conflict significantly raised the level of experience of our security forces and placed them among the best armies in the field of combating terrorism. Therefore, the time has come to turn the page and redirect our resources and capabilities from fighting wars to promoting development.
Final victory over terrorism will not be achieved without real development, and this includes providing decent levels of health care, education and other basic services. This is the goal of the program that my government is working to develop and is determined to implement: a program based on advancing economic and financial reforms, advancing human rights, empowering women, and strengthening the principles of freedom and democracy in general. Another crucial issue is combating corruption - which represents the other side of terrorism as long as its effects are no less devastating - and ensuring that the Iraqi people's money goes to useful doctrines. We must also work to diversify our economy and move away from relying on oil alone, even though we continue to rely on our position as the second largest oil exporting country in OPEC (not to mention our possession of great reserves of natural gas). To this end, we are working to advance cross-border projects (such as industrial zones in partnership with neighboring countries) and a “development road” that will serve as a link for the Gulf region with Turkey and Europe.
As part of this effort we now have an opportunity to transform the relationship between Iraq and the United States from one-sided to comprehensive. The time has come to activate all the provisions of the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between Iraq and the United States in 2008. This agreement goes further than mere security and military affairs, which have remained dominant in the relationship for most of the past two decades, to highlight forms of cooperation in areas such as the economy. Investment, energy and climate, agriculture and industry, technology and education. The Iraqi and American people deserve to see continued benefits from this partnership given the joint sacrifices they have made. The stability that Iraq is currently experiencing should encourage American companies to take a role in important development projects in the fields of energy, communications, housing, health care, education, transportation, and more. Our urgent need for American expertise and technology expands to include clean energy and the green economy, as we aim to develop sustainable and renewable sectors. The Strategic Framework Agreement established the legal basis for these activities, and by investing in it, we will be able to put Iraq in a position that enables it to advance its democracy, consolidate its state, and strengthen the rule of law in it... These are the pillars that will allow us to return Iraq to its historical glory.
Iraq first
The guiding principle that guides us in our foreign relations is: “Iraq First.” This means building strong partnerships based on common interests with friendly countries inside and outside our region. This principle means that we deal with all countries according to standards of equality, so that Iraq does not turn into an arena on which external players settle their scores. Dealing with Iraq must be on the basis of sovereignty and mutual respect, not on the basis of considering it an agent on behalf of others in their conflicts.
This is also why we seek to restore Iraq's pivotal role in the Middle East, taking advantage of our strategic location.
We welcome the opportunity to work with the United States to defuse crises and reduce tensions in the Middle East region, but we are nevertheless determined to avoid involvement in the conflict between our two partners, Iran and the United States. We believe that a comprehensive calm and reduction of escalation in the Middle East is in the interest of both Iraq and the United States, and this requires, above all, an urgent end to the war in the Gaza Strip and respect for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
When I visit Washington and meet with President Joe Biden on April 15, it will be an opportunity to put the American-Iraqi partnership on new, more permanent foundations. Our discussions will focus on the continuing importance of our economic relationship and cooperation in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and the use of political and diplomatic means to defuse regional tensions, and the fight against terrorism will remain a central topic for both our governments.
We acknowledge and appreciate the critical role played by the United States and other members of the international coalition in fighting ISIS and defeating terrorism. This support has helped Iraq achieve stability, make important strides on the path to democracy and the rule of law, and ensure that the government has the exclusive right to use force. However, we believe that now is the right time to expand our relationship, in recognition of the growing capabilities of our forces to defend Iraq, ensure the security of its citizens, and contribute in effective ways to building a prosperous and stable Iraq. Our new partnership can become a source of mutual benefit for our two countries and a driving force for stability in the Middle East.
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