Relationship dossier
Iraq
Russia
Relationship assessment
Pragmatic ties centered on energy, defense procurement, and regional security
Iraq toward Russia
+25Iraq has pursued energy and defense ties with Russia, including agreements involving Russian oil companies and purchases of Russian military equipment. Iraqi officials have also engaged Moscow on regional security, including the conflict in Syria.
Russia toward Iraq
+35Russia has supported its companies’ substantial oil-sector activity in Iraq and supplied military equipment to the Iraqi government. Moscow has also engaged Baghdad on regional security issues, including Syria.
Overall relationship
+30The relationship is shaped by practical energy and defense cooperation and recurring security engagement. Russian investment in Iraqi oil and arms procurement provide durable bilateral links, while the partnership remains one part of Iraq’s broader foreign relations rather than an exclusive alignment.
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 Russia maintain a pragmatic relationship involving energy cooperation, arms procurement, and coordination on regional security. Russian companies have developed major oil projects in Iraq, while Iraq has purchased Russian military equipment and engaged with Moscow on the Syrian conflict. These ties coexist with Iraq’s broader partnerships and do not amount to an exclusive strategic alignment.
Key developments
Lukoil acquired a major stake in the West Qurna-2 oil field development project in Iraq.
Iraq purchased Russian military equipment, including helicopters and air-defense systems.
Iraqi and Russian officials engaged in coordination concerning the Syrian conflict and regional security.
Major uncertainties
- The current status and implementation of bilateral energy and defense arrangements are unclear.
- The extent of sustained Iraqi-Russian coordination on regional security is uncertain.