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In this policy brief for @ECFRMena I lay out the challenges Iraq is facing and recommendations for Europe to achieve a real and lasting partnership vital to the stability of both sides 1/ https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/torn_between_two_allies_europeans_can_reduce_iraqi_dependence_on_iran_us
The challenges Iraq is facing:
Covid-19
Economy
Daesh
US-Iran rivalry + internal security
Protests
The Kadhimi government cannot deal with all these crises without foreign support. Risk of Iraq's collapse is real 2/
Covid-19
Economy
Daesh
US-Iran rivalry + internal security
Protests
The Kadhimi government cannot deal with all these crises without foreign support. Risk of Iraq's collapse is real 2/
Why should Europe care about Iraq?
- Resurgence of Daesh will spur terrorism at home, thus vital to ensure that doesn't happen
- Instability in Iraq will lead to displacement and migration, a concern for many European countries
- Stability of Iraq is vital for the Middle East 3/
- Resurgence of Daesh will spur terrorism at home, thus vital to ensure that doesn't happen
- Instability in Iraq will lead to displacement and migration, a concern for many European countries
- Stability of Iraq is vital for the Middle East 3/
What can Europe do to help Iraq?
- Conditional economic support
- Increase security cooperation
- Ease US-Iran tensions
There is no denying that the US and Europe diverge at times on Iraq policy, so Europe has to decouple from that 4/
- Conditional economic support
- Increase security cooperation
- Ease US-Iran tensions
There is no denying that the US and Europe diverge at times on Iraq policy, so Europe has to decouple from that 4/
Though there is an acute short-term perfect storm that needs to be addressed, the challenges Iraq faces are long-term and so the solutions should be strategic. If Europe wants to help Iraq then it needs to partner up for a deep-long term engagement, focused beyond security 5/
