Relationship dossier
Iraq
Saudi Arabia
Relationship assessment
Practical cooperation has grown after decades of estrangement, while regional security concerns continue to constrain ties.
Iraq toward Saudi Arabia
+25The Iraqi government has engaged Saudi Arabia through the bilateral coordination council established in 2017 and supported the reopening of the Arar crossing in 2020, enabling renewed cross-border commerce. These steps reflect practical cooperation, though regional security concerns remain.
Saudi Arabia toward Iraq
+25Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad in 2015 and established a bilateral coordination council with Iraq in 2017. The reopening of the Arar crossing in 2020 provided a further practical channel for engagement and commerce. Saudi concerns about regional influence and security continue to temper relations.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship combines a substantial historical rupture with a sustained, if limited, rapprochement. Embassy reopening, the coordination council, and restoration of cross-border access provide concrete foundations for cooperation. Persistent regional security concerns and distrust keep the partnership short of close 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 Saudi Arabia have moved from prolonged estrangement toward practical engagement. Saudi Arabia reopened its Baghdad embassy in 2015, and the two governments established a coordination council in 2017. The Arar border crossing reopened in 2020 after decades of closure, supporting renewed cross-border commerce. Regional security concerns and Saudi unease about Iran's influence in Iraq remain important constraints.
Areas of tension
- Saudi concerns about Iranian influence in Iraq and its regional consequences.
- Security concerns involving armed groups operating in or from Iraq.
Key developments
Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad after decades of closure.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia established a bilateral coordination council.
The Arar border crossing reopened after decades of closure, restoring a channel for cross-border commerce.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of cooperation through the Saudi-Iraqi Coordination Council are unclear.
- The extent of Iraqi government influence over armed groups that concern Saudi Arabia remains uncertain.