The Future of the Iraqi-US Relationship

Despite the heavy legacy of the former regime that Iraq still bears today, the government has sought to reestablish relations with neighboring countries and to build bridges of trust with them by adopting policies of goodwill based on mutual respect for national sovereignty.

By Lukman Faily, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States

A new era of ideological and political struggle in the Middle East between various intellectual and political forces and factions has arisen due to the lack of a clear vision for the future of the region, following the fall of the dictatorial regime after American troops entered Iraq.

The birth of the democratic system in Iraq represents a threat to many dictatorial regimes in the region, which seek in various ways to undermine the Iraqi political process, the building of democratic institutions, and Iraq’s return to the Arab, regional and international arena.

The vast deterioration of the country’s infrastructure in various respects, as a result of the former regime’s policies, in addition to the political differences that accompanied the process of rebuilding the state’s institutions, has weakened its ability to meet the internal and external challenges and dangers.

Despite the heavy legacy of the former regime that Iraq still bears today, the government has sought to reestablish relations with neighboring countries and to build bridges of trust with them by adopting policies of goodwill based on mutual respect for national sovereignty. Also, the diplomatic efforts of the Iraqi government, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to remove Iraq from UN Chapter VII provisions, is proof of a genuine will to implement such policies and the beginning of a new chapter of balanced and constructive relations with the countries of the region.

The importance of the United States’ role internationally and in the region has not been absent from the minds of Iraqis, as well as the role it can play in rebuilding the new Iraq. As a result, the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between Iraq and the United States in 2008 came about through joint efforts towards shaping the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. It is no secret that building strategic relations with the United States requires concerted efforts and a real understanding of the process of interaction and engagement with transformations, as well as the regional and international political climate and its impact on the nature and type of relations between the two countries.

Iraq’s sources of influence will enhance its footprint on the regional and international stage, and will encourage the United States to adopt policies that assure the achievement of our two countries’ shared goals. A good appreciation of the tangible and intangible strengths of the United States pushes Iraq toward a direction in which it seeks the ideal route to take advantage of these capacities in order to strengthen democratization, build the new Iraqi state on solid foundations, and secure a dignified life for its citizens. And to insure optimal investment in bilateral relations, it is important to set priorities and goals that Iraq can achieve based on agreements that aim to develop specific aspects of the relationship.

Although the bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States are headed in the right direction, the major challenges facing the country require us to step up the pace and make greater efforts to overcome difficulties and to establish a long-term strategic relationship.

The common held belief that President Obama’s foreign policy is different to that of his predecessor may not mean that the United States is turning its attention away from the Middle East. The US has strategic relations with some of the countries in the region and has priorities in accordance with changes and challenges in the region. The United States has dedicated great importance to Iran’s nuclear program, the political transition in Egypt, the Syrian conflict and other issues in the region. In light of the challenges facing Iraq over the past decade, the question that may arise is: What is the US interest in Iraq? And how can Iraq be part of its interests and priorities in the region?

The implementation of the Strategic Framework Agreement and the development of bilateral relations with the United States, requires institutional efforts on Iraq’s behalf that utilizes legislative and political tools to reinforce foreign cooperation, in addition to articulating a national policy that is able to achieve the higher interests of the country while taking into account the common interests of both countries.

Despite the positive nature of the ties that bind the two governments together, the process of building a strategic alliance requires a convergence in visions between the two countries toward common interests and regional and international issues, as well as an understanding of the rules and procedures of institutions which govern the process of foreign policy-making in the United States. In addition, expanding the parameters of positive relations with various influential actors including the US Congress, think tanks, major corporations, as well as media organizations, universities and others in a way that serves the national interests of Iraq.

The unification of domestic political efforts enhances the capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iraqi Embassy to continue to strengthen relations with various important parties within the United States. Considering the importance of the role of the US in the global arena, and in light of the crisis and challenges which the region is experiencing, and the collapse of several political regimes and the polarization that has developed on sectarian and authoritarian bases, it is important to interact intelligently with regional transformations and the positions of the US, because these transformation and influential positions have significant impacts on the bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States.

Original Arabic version to be published in Al-Sabah newspaper on April 15, 2014

To read this in Arabic, click here.