The “Institute for Peace” recommends that Washington increase attention to Iraq: the challenges it f

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[size=52]The “Institute for Peace” recommends that Washington increase attention to Iraq: the challenges it faces are a reflection of America’s interests[/size]

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04-28-2024
The US Institute of Peace stated that Iraq shows a desire to open a new chapter in relations with the United States and the strategic partnership with it, beyond the issue of security, to include broader issues, including economic, regional, and climate challenges.[/size]
[size=45]The American report pointed out the fluctuations in relations between Baghdad and Washington since 2003, and that the visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani came in light of many historical occasions and dangerous developments in the Middle East with the 21st anniversary of the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime. He said that Al-Sudani’s visit included the largest delegation. An Iraqi comes to Washington, showing Iraq's will to begin a new chapter in the strategic partnership that goes beyond security.[/size]
[size=45]The report pointed out that expectations about Al-Sudani’s visit, even before his arrival in Washington, were low, given the impact of the Gaza War and the attacks by Iraqi factions on American forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan, and the American responses to them. Despite this, Al-Sudani came to Washington with members of the Council of Ministers and senior figures. Advisers, representatives of Parliament, businessmen and media analysts, then visited Texas and Michigan to meet with American companies and Iraqi expatriates, urging them to engage in building Iraq and strengthening relations with the United States.[/size]
[size=45]The report considered that the symbolism of this visit, in terms of timing, the itinerary, and the size of the large delegation, reflects Iraq's desire to focus more on the economic, educational, and popular fields, while American officials stressed their commitment to a comprehensive relationship with Baghdad.[/size]
[size=45]The report dealt with the pressure that Sudanese is facing internally and from Iran to end the presence of American forces, while he is trying not to distract from his political and economic agenda. He also pointed to the activity of the Supreme Military Committee, which has been in place since August 2023, and the search for an assessment of the presence of American forces, within the framework of what he described as part of broader efforts for more normal bilateral relations.[/size]
[size=45]According to the report, even if bilateral relations between the two parties develop into a more normal stage that does not focus primarily on the security field, the armed factions will still be able to launch attacks on American interests in Iraq, and it is possible that these groups will work to limit the presence of armed groups. Parties such as the United Nations mission, as a means of exerting easier pressure on the United States and other international actors and reducing the external presence that undermines their interests.[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the report indicated that the Iraqi economy and financial sector have become two major areas of tension between the United States and Iraq, especially because of the efforts made by Iran to circumvent American sanctions through Iraq, adding that the Iraqis call their country the economic lung of Iran, While the US Treasury Department is pressuring the Central Bank of Iraq to expand an electronic platform through the banking system to help prevent the smuggling of US dollars to Iran or other destinations, while Sudanese exploited this pressure to carry out reforms in the banking sector, and his country signed more than 12 memorandums of understanding with American companies such as General Electric, KBR Honeywell, and others.[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the report said that Iraq responded to American pressure and used international companies to support the detention and use of combusted gas, while Baghdad's need for imports from abroad will stop by the end of this year, while Iraq shows interest in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.[/size]
[size=45]From genocide to democracy[/size]
[size=45]The report stated that April also marks the 36th anniversary of the Anfal operations carried out by Saddam Hussein when he committed genocide against the Kurds in 1988, in addition to the approaching 10th anniversary of ISIS controlling a third of Iraqi territory and committing genocide against the Yazidis and other Iraqi components.[/size]
[size=45]The report continued that after more than two and a half decades, the crimes of genocide raised a global alarm and demonstrated that the mentality of mass killing still exists.[/size]
[size=45]In this context, the report said that the delegation headed by Al-Sudani to Washington included representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government and its advisor for Yazidi affairs, which represents positive indicators of his attempt to rule comprehensively, recalling that Al-Sudani stressed during his meetings his endeavor to settle the differences between the federal government. and the Kurdistan Regional Government, including disputes over their respective authorities regarding oil and gas revenues.[/size]
[size=45]The report also mentioned Sudanese saying in Washington that these differences and obstacles in the relationship are institutional and legal and not political, pledging to continue to find ways to achieve progress.[/size]
[size=45]The report continued that leaders of Sunni, Kurdish, ethnic and other religious minorities feel that Sudanese is sincere, even as other political actors continue to obstruct any more important strategic progress regarding federal laws and oil and gas.[/size]
[size=45]In addition, the report said that Al-Sudani’s visit also came in light of regional unrest that extended beyond the war in Gaza to Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Yemen and the Red Sea, especially when Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel, over the skies of Iraq, which shed light on Weaknesses that threaten Iraq's security and sovereignty and on which the country still needs to make significant progress. The report also stated that on April 21, armed groups attacked American forces in Syria, one day after Al-Sudani returned from Washington.[/size]
[size=45]The report saw that Al-Sudani is trying to strengthen the Iraqi state and its sovereignty, and to pursue common interests as a common ground in foreign policy, and acknowledges the necessity of a balance that Iraq must strike between Iran as a neighbor, and the United States as a strategic partner.[/size]
[size=45]Why should Washington care about Iraq?[/size]
[size=45]The report stated that the challenges facing Iraq are a reflection of a number of key national security interests of the United States, including efforts aimed at strengthening democracy, exploiting the relationship between climate and energy, regional and global competition, and extremism, recalling that the United States has invested in establishing a democratic system in Iraq. While its Iraqi partners demand that it not be abandoned, he added that despite the decline of democracy at the institutional level, the Iraqi people, especially the youth who are a “renewable energy” in the country, still believe in development.[/size]
[size=45]The report found that the Iraqis still need technology and experience from the United States with regard to combating the effects of climate change, adding that in light of water scarcity, the Iraqi government needs a comprehensive strategy and measures that are compatible with the realities of climate and environmental change, which is an extremely important adaptation for the country’s stability and economic development. .[/size]
[size=45]The report also mentioned China’s increasing economic role in Iraq, and a statement by US President Joe Biden during his visit to Saudi Arabia in 2022, that “We will not move away and leave a vacuum filled by China, Russia, or Iran.” We will seek to build on this moment with active and principled American leadership.”[/size]
[size=45]After the report pointed out that the threat of ISIS has greatly diminished in Iraq, for reasons including the partnership between the United States and Iraq, it pointed out that[/size]
[size=45]The return and integration of approximately 20,000 Iraqis in Al-Hawl camp into their communities is considered necessary for humanitarian reasons as well as for American and Iraqi national security interests.[/size]
[size=45]The report stressed the importance of Iraq to global energy stability, as it possesses the fifth largest oil reserve and is one of the three largest oil producers in OPEC, while it aspires to be a player in the gas sector as well, in addition to the fact that Washington appreciates the pivotal role that Iraq plays in regional stability.[/size]
[size=45]Move forward[/size]
[size=45]The report concluded by saying that “an objective view of Sudanese’s visit and its results show progress in a number of areas,” including an emphasis on bilateral interest in strengthening relations with the region’s slide toward expanding conflict, and an emphasis on the Iraqi need and interest in American companies, technology, and education, along with the Iraqi will to overcome... The difficulties of the past while balancing many competing interests and actors.[/size]
[size=45]The report pointed out that support from the “coordination framework” for Sudanese’s visit may provide a greater opportunity for progress compared to previous times, adding that “the ball is now in Iraq’s court to create conditions that will make American companies attractive to work and invest in Iraq safely.”[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, the report said that the United States must continue to show its understanding of the fact that change in Iraq takes time and that American support remains extremely important.[/size]
[size=45]The American report concluded by saying that Iraq, like Germany, Japan and Vietnam, can move beyond the history of war, towards a future of strategic partnership with the United States in a way that serves the two countries in their diplomatic, economic, security, technological and popular interests.[/size]
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