Iraq’s Positioning in a Polarized World: Between West and East

At a time when global dynamics are increasingly influenced by the war in Ukraine and the rise of Russian disinformation, Iraq finds itself in a delicate position between major powers with deep interests in the region.

In an interview with The Geopost, political scientist Rahman Al-Jebouri, president of the Academy of Political Development and Governance in Iraq, speaks openly about the challenges his country faces, its efforts to maintain a balance between American and Iranian influence, and the role Iraq can play in countering dangerous narratives in the region. In this in-depth conversation, Al-jebouri shares his views on regional security, relations with neighboring countries, and the impact of global conflicts on Iraq’s foreign policy.

Complete interview:

The Geopost: How concerned is the Iraqi government about the global spread of Russian disinformation and what role does Iraq see for itself in countering such narratives in the region?

Al-jebouri: In Iraq, we get caught in the middle between Iran, Russia influence and the US influence. So, our policies are really mixed of. We are with the Ukrainian people, with their freedom and fighting Putin and Russia. At the same time, government-wise, you have to be careful, you don’t go against the Iranian and against the Russian and Chinese. So, publicly, Iraqi people support the Ukrainian. A government is kind of taking in the middle.

We understand the struggle of the Ukrainian. We also publicly, we are not condemning the Russian for their invasion to Ukraine or in that war.

The Geopost: What is Iraq’s official stance on the war in Ukraine and how has the conflict affected Iraq’s foreign policy or security cooperation?

Al-jebouri: How it affects Iraq? You know, Iraq was before in the center. When the Ukraine war came, Iraq gets no attention anymore. But also affecting Iraqi economy, affecting Iraqi, situation within the Western countries. So, in general, I think Iraq got affected big time, especially on the specific part of it, because lot of the European and American funds went to Ukraine instead of Iraq. So, we are affecting big time.

The Geopost: Given the ongoing instability in various parts of the world, how would you describe the current global security landscape and what are the main threats Iraq is monitoring closely?

Al-jebouri: Globally, we are in kind of in a hard situation, because now the United States try to force their will on the world. So, everybody’s struggling, from Europe to Iraq. What we monitor is really how can we get back on the track for peace, how we get back on the track for doing what we used to do, international consultation, we watch what the US doing in Europe, we watch the European Union, we watch the Chinese and the Iranian in one side. So, it’s all kind of connected and watching, how do we protect our countries from the struggle between these two powers.

The Geopost: What are Iraq’s strategic priorities in its relationship with neighboring countries such as Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia? And how is the government working to foster regional cooperation and stability?

Al-jebouri: Now in Iraq, the neighbors, we have so many issues. We have with the Turks the water resources because our water mostly comes from Turkey. And in Syria, the new government we are not comfortable with yet. To watch these two things and then also the relation the US with the Iranian, because all affect in the Iraqi inside. We are paying attention to our neighbors, which is the priority. And then second, what’s the policy between Iran and American because that is really what affect our country, is there is a peace between Iran and America or it is the war on our doorstep.

The Geopost: And how does Iraq navigate the delicate balance between US influence and Iranian presence in the country, particularly in terms of military cooperation, political alignment, and economic interests?

Al-jebouri: Geographically, we have a border of 1,000 kilometers with Iran. Historically, we have a lot of in-country relation. Politically, we don’t want the influence or the Iranian policies on Iraq. But, culturally, in a security, economy, somehow, we have to coordinate with them or we work something with them. But that’s affect our relation with the US. So, we try to balance the relation with two countries. In one hand, the Iranians still on sanction. In the other hand, we have to deal with electricity, with gas, with border security with the Iranian. So we are in a hard situation, to balance these policies.

The Geopost: How do you see Iran’s connections with Russia in the Ukrainian war?

Al-jebouri: As Iraqi, we know the Iranian basically having the side of the Russia in Ukraine. So that’s affect us because we understand the struggle of the Ukrainians. As a citizen, we also want to help the Ukrainian.

Government-wise, I think there is a pressure from the Iranian, to stop humanitarian, at least, help for the Ukrainian. We try to manage it, we try to be in the middle because we know, healthy Ukrainian is good for Iraq.

/ The Geopost