United States Policy Towards Iraq Under President Joe Biden's Administration

Abstract

Iraq was one of the absent agenda items in the 2021 U.S. presidential election, in contrast to previous elections where it was a central issue, particularly after its occupation in 2003. President Joe Biden did not explicitly address his policy on Iraq during his election campaign, nor did he outline his approach towards the country even two years into his administration. Instead, he merely referred to the Middle East as a region of perpetual wars that should be managed by the countries of the region themselves. This raised important questions about Iraq's role in U.S. foreign policy: Has it become a secondary foreign policy issue for the United States in the coming period? And has the Russia-Ukraine war revived Iraq’s significance due to its energy potential?

Keywords: Iraq and the Middle East, Joe Biden, Iraqi Shiite Coordination Framework Government, Russia-Ukraine war, Strategic Framework Agreement.