Strategic Council Online – Interview: A West Asia affairs expert stated that Christoph Henzi, the new NATO commander in Iraq, recently emphasized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) continued commitment to coordinating and cooperating with Iraqi military and security institutions through experience-sharing, advisory services, and capacity-building.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: A faculty member of International Relations at the Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies stated: The 34th Arab League Summit was held in Baghdad on Saturday, May 17. 2024). In their final statement, Arab leaders called on the international community to pressure the Zionist regime to stop the bloodshed and massacres in Gaza. The summit’s final statement focused on the centrality of the Palestinian issue and the demand for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, the question remains: Why has this body, aside from issuing a series of ineffective statements, failed to play a role in regional matters?
Strategic Council Online –Opinion: The liquidity crisis in Iraq’s banking system, marked by a sharp decline in state banks’ cash reserves and disruptions in loan disbursements and salary payments, goes beyond a mere financial issue and could have political, diplomatic, and even security repercussions.
Strategic Council Online – Opinion: The invitation to Ahmed Al-Sharaa, head of Syria’s interim government, to attend the Arab Summit in Baghdad sends a message from the Iraqi government to the Arab world that Baghdad seeks to play a central role in rebuilding Arab relations and reducing regional tensions. However, the path ahead for Baghdad does not appear straightforward. The invitation to Syria’s interim President, facilitated by the mediation of Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, and Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani’s initial meeting with Al-Sharaa in Doha in February 2025, demonstrates Iraq’s determination to mediate regional conflicts.
Strategic Council Online – Interview: An international affairs expert considered the Iraqi Prime Minister’s visit to the UK and the agreements reached during this visit important for Iraq’s future in West Asia. He said that Iraq is on the path to transitioning from a “disorganized” state in terms of politics, economy, and security to a stable state in the region, economically, politically, and security-wise.