Foreign Affairs Magazine has raised concerns over the worsening political and security landscape in Iraq, particularly with the increasing influence of pro-Iranian forces across various sectors of the government, parliament, judiciary, economy, and security apparatus.
The magazine criticised the US administration for neglecting this alarming development, highlighting that Iraq is effectively being controlled by “three warlords”, while Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has become a mere “puppet.”
In an article titled ” Iraq Is Quietly Falling Apart,” the magazine acknowledges that Iraq may outwardly appear to have achieved a level of stability, with the formation of an effective government following a prolonged political vacuum and a decrease in terrorist violence to its lowest point since the US invasion in 2003.
However, the report points to a speech delivered by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on May 4 at The Washington Institute, where he emphasised the US strategy built on the “twin pillars of deterrence and diplomacy” for the decrease in attacks on US interests
The report warns that while de-escalation of tensions between the US and Iran-backed militias dominating the Iraqi government may be seen as a measure of success for the Biden administration, this approach could have long-term consequences.
Consequently, the report cautions that the apparent calm in Iraq may be deceiving and masks underlying turmoil.
