Relationship dossier
Iraq
Poland
Relationship assessment
A consequential history of Polish military intervention followed by security cooperation
Iraq toward Poland
+15Iraqi governments have cooperated with Polish security efforts, including the post-2014 international campaign against ISIS and the training of Iraqi forces. The breadth of Iraq’s bilateral cooperation with Poland beyond security is unclear.
Poland toward Iraq
-15Poland took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and led a multinational force in part of the country during the occupation. It later contributed to international efforts against ISIS and supported training for Iraqi forces.
Overall relationship
0The relationship combines the substantial adverse legacy of Poland’s participation in the 2003 invasion and occupation with later practical security cooperation, including support for Iraqi forces against ISIS. The significance of that intervention remains a defining feature, while the breadth of other bilateral ties is less clear.
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
Iraq and Poland have had a relationship shaped by Poland’s major military role in the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation, followed by Polish participation in training Iraqi forces after the rise of ISIS. This later security cooperation contrasts with the impact of the invasion, while the scope of wider bilateral cooperation is less clear.
Areas of tension
- The legacy of Poland’s participation in the 2003 invasion and occupation of Iraq.
Key developments
Poland participated in the invasion of Iraq and subsequently led a multinational force in part of the country.
Poland ended its main military deployment in Iraq.
Poland contributed to international efforts against ISIS and training Iraqi forces.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of post-2003 Iraqi-Polish bilateral cooperation beyond security matters is unclear.
- The scale and duration of Polish training support to Iraqi forces are uncertain.