The policy of the Russian Federation towards Iraq since 2003

Abstract

Although the Russian policy is characterized by a kind of ambiguity and instability in its position towards international issues and crises. However, it is well aware of the importance of being present in the Middle East and the Arab world, especially since Russia is an effective economic and military force in many countries of this area, due to its arms exports and marketing to its giant oil companies that invest in these countries. Iraq is one of the most important of these countries that attract the attention of global and regional powers, due to its strategic location and the diversity of its wealth. However, Russia, even though it enjoys friendly relations and common interests with Iraq, is not able to budge the American and regional hegemony in the Iraqi state. Accordingly, it can be said that Iraq and the Russian Federation have a long history of bilateral relations, but that is not enough for Moscow to build strategies and achieve ambitions such as those in Syria.