Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on Russia's policy toward the Middle East.
Articles & Testimony
The country need not be a top foreign policy priority, but the Biden administration would be wise to invest in Iraqi security, unity, and democracy amid competition with Russia, China, and Iran.
As Joe Biden’s inauguration draws closer, his administration’s approach to Iraq remains uncertain. He has said little about the country to date other than pledges to end “forever wars” and withdraw American troops from the Middle East, while recognizing that some troops will need to stay. Although it would be unrealistic to expect Iraq to be at the top of Biden’s agenda, he and Antony Blinken see Russia and China as key foreign policy priorities, and to that end have the opportunity to take a long strategic view towards Iraq. As the U.S. foreign policy establishment continues to pivot toward great power competition, support for Iraqi security and democracy would put a check on not only Iranian ambitions, but also those of Moscow and Beijing...
