Iraq and the International Competition in the Middle East after 2017

Abstract

The study reviews the most important factors that determine the Iraqi position on the US-Iranian competition, its expected repercussions, and the strategies of the competing forces in managing the crisis, as well as determining the official Iraqi position, the policies that the Iraqi government can follow and their results. The study concludes that Iraq, by virtue of its geographical location, and the political, security and economic reality, is at the heart of the crisis, and that its potential repercussions will affect more than one side. Consequently, the Iraqi government must adhere to the policy of neutrality towards both sides of the crisis, avoid bias, and support all efforts that seek to find peaceful solutions through diplomatic means, and reduce the intensity of escalation between the two sides.

Keywords

• international competition
• international crisis
• foreign policy
• united states
• iran