Throughout its turbulent history, Iraq has always been a key country in shaping the geopolitics of the Middle East – whether as a key player itself or as a stage for regional power competition. Today, after long years of war, sectarian violence, and terrorism, Iraq has managed to regain a certain stability. However, non-state actors, particularly armed militias, continue to wield significant influence within Iraqi politics. The country also remains subject to external pressure, whether from Iran or the United States, with Baghdad striving to balance and hedge against these competing powers.
The Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, have triggered a new and ongoing wave of violent escalation not only concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but also regionally, including direct mutual attacks between Israel and Iran. Also, Iraq has partly been drawn into that, becoming one of the frontlines of the battle between Israel and Iran’s proxy forces. While the outcome of the transition in Syria remains uncertain, the sudden fall of the Assad regime in Damascus on December 8, 2024, is another formative event for the regional order that is being reshuffled.
What do these regional dynamics mean for Iraq? From various perspectives, the papers in this compilation shed light on the implications for the Iraqi domestic political scene. In doing so, they delve into the fragmented setup of Iraq’s foreign policy agency, with non-state actors playing an important role, foremost among them the Iran-leaning Popular Mobilisation Forces. As Germany and Europe assert their international role and redefine their policies in the Middle East, we believe a better understanding of the actors and drivers of Iraq’s foreign policy is paramount.