Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
There is no question that Washington’s position in the broader Middle East was dented by the fiasco in Afghanistan. Ultimately, however, U.S. assets in the region are still unrivaled: the United States’ political and economic influence, hard power, soft power, embrace of multilateral diplomacy, and leadership of a rules-based global order continue to give it the upper hand over all its rivals.
If one thing is certain, it is that key actors in Baghdad, the KRG, Ankara, and Tehran will be keen to test the parameters of America’s new role in Iraq to find out. While this period may be one of great uncertainty, there is more reason to anticipate general continuity than change.
Iraq’s parliamentary elections show a shift in the balance of power in favor of Moqtada al-Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki.
Regional and international actors are accumulating cards to engage in a new Middle Eastern power game.
Mustapha al-Kadhimi’s promotion of regional dialogue allows him to address Iraq’s many vulnerabilities.
Iraq has been holding a regional summit, aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation in the Middle East.
Far from being exceptions, botched American withdrawals have tended to be the rule in the broader Middle East.
In an interview, Anatol Lieven discusses how the U.S. has erred in the broader Middle East.
When Iraq’s prime minister met U.S. President Joe Biden, he had a complex balancing act to perform.
Border crossings and cross-border connections have become essential components in the growing regional contest for influence in Iraq.
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