Relationship dossier
Australia
Iraq
Relationship assessment
A major rupture over the 2003 invasion followed by security cooperation against ISIS
Australia toward Iraq
-10Australia participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a major hostile act toward the Iraqi state. From 2014, Australia contributed military support to the campaign against ISIS and provided training to Iraqi forces.
Iraq toward Australia
+15In 2014, the Iraqi government sought international coalition assistance against ISIS, in a campaign to which Australia contributed. Iraqi forces also received Australian training in Iraq.
Overall relationship
+5The relationship has been shaped by the sharp rupture of Australia's participation in the 2003 invasion and by subsequent security cooperation after the Iraqi government sought help against ISIS. These contrasting features define a mixed bilateral relationship; the scope of broader, sustained cooperation is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Australia's 2003 invasion of Iraq was a major source of hostility. Relations later included Australian assistance to Iraqi forces: Australia contributed to the international campaign against ISIS and provided training in Iraq after the Iraqi government sought coalition support. The relationship therefore combines a serious historical rupture with later security cooperation, though the breadth of cooperation beyond security is unclear.
Areas of tension
- Australia's participation in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
Key developments
Australia participated in the invasion of Iraq.
The Iraqi government sought coalition assistance against ISIS; Australia later contributed to the campaign and trained Iraqi forces.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and continuity of bilateral cooperation beyond security are unclear.
- The extent of Iraqi government coordination with Australia during the post-2014 coalition campaign is unclear.