On the sidelines of the change of command ceremony, Henzi told the official Iraqi news agency (WAA): “It is a great honor and a special privilege for France and personally for me to assume command of NATO in Iraq, the cradle of civilization.” He added: “This will help transform NATO’s mission in Iraq into a sustainable and long-term partnership, making Iraq a key regional partner.”

Jafar Ghanadbashi, in an interview with the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations website, stated that NATO officials speaking about Iraq’s partnership with NATO and expressing interest in this partnership is not a new development.

According to this expert, NATO has been present in Iraq for many years. He explained: “NATO participated in the 2003 occupation of Iraq as part of the ‘Coalition of the Willing,’ but this presence was quickly scaled back and limited to training and advisory activities. From 2003 to 2018, NATO primarily focused on training and empowering Iraqi security forces.”

The West Asia affairs expert believes that NATO, much of which is managed and controlled by the United States, has plans for Iraq’s future similar to what it previously implemented in Germany. He elaborated: “In the past, after Saddam’s fall and the U.S. presence in Iraq, the theory emerged that one of America’s possible scenarios in Iraq was a 20- or 50-year presence, just as it was said that post-war Iraq—a defeated country with a disbanded army—resembled post-World War II Germany.”*

According to Ghanadbashi, after Hitler’s regime collapsed, the Americans entered Germany and turned it into a military hub while stripping Germany of the right to form any armed forces. Interestingly, in recent years, Germany has moved toward building the strongest military in Europe and is even set to deploy thousands of troops to Lithuania to defend Europe.

The expert believes it is no coincidence that the theory of turning Iraq into a “Germany of West Asia” is being unveiled just as Germany is ending its decades-long role, and the Americans, given their global military divisions, undoubtedly need a hub like Iraq in the West Asia region.

Regarding Iraq’s importance to the U.S. and NATO as a whole, Ghanadbashi said: “The factor cited for the U.S. presence in Iraq after Saddam’s fall was not just the country’s geographical and strategic position; rather, Iraq’s vast oil reserves—said to be even richer than Saudi Arabia’s and Iran’s—have been and remain a key reason for NATO and America’s presence in Iraq.”

He added: “Iraq has enormous oil resources in both its north and south.”

The West Asia expert assessed NATO’s approach as part of the organization’s broader strategy to advance into Eastern Europe, stating that NATO welcomes presence and partnerships anywhere in the world.

He also explained that NATO now seeks to adopt a more aggressive posture, having suffered significant defeats in Ukraine. Currently, NATO members aim to threaten adversaries, including Iran, by increasing their presence in Iraq and forging stronger partnerships.

Ghanadbashi also pointed to the psychological warfare behind this issue, adding: “Iraq does not have the conditions to become a NATO partner because it would require granting them new bases and increasing troop deployments.”

According to the expert, a greater NATO presence in Iraq—and the consequent increase in bases and interference—would disrupt Iraq’s relations with neighboring countries, including Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Partnership with NATO would mean Iraq must cede part of its military authority to the alliance.

He continued: “In this case, Iraq’s tensions with its neighbors will escalate, and its borders will become insecure for neighboring countries. Moreover, if Iraq deepens its partnership with NATO, it will become a serious economic and military competitor to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, who will undoubtedly not tolerate Iraq becoming a more prominent player than them in the Western bloc.”

Ghanadbashi elaborated on the consequences of NATO’s increased presence in Iraq: “Iraq is home to diverse ethnic groups, and NATO’s presence will exacerbate ethnic divisions and tensions.”

The West Asia expert said: “Of course, the Zionist regime’s moves may also influence this decision, as the Israelis have a presence in the Kurdistan Region and do not want to lose this position. It has even been said that some members of NATO’s delegation in Iraq cooperate with foreign intelligence services, including the Zionist regime’s Mossad.”