Relationship dossier
Iraq
United States
Relationship assessment
Security cooperation persists alongside the lasting legacy of the 2003 invasion and disputes over US forces in Iraq.
Iraq toward United States
+15Iraqi governments have cooperated with the United States on counterterrorism, including through the campaign against ISIS, and have maintained a bilateral framework for political, economic, and security cooperation. However, Iraq’s parliament called for foreign forces to leave after the January 2020 US strike in Baghdad, reflecting significant domestic opposition to the US military presence.
United States toward Iraq
-10The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 and led the occupation that followed, creating a lasting source of hostility. In later years, it supported Iraqi security forces and took part in the campaign against ISIS, but its military presence and the January 2020 strike in Baghdad have been major sources of tension.
Overall relationship
-5The relationship is shaped by the severe legacy of the 2003 invasion and occupation, counterbalanced by sustained security cooperation after 2003, including joint efforts against ISIS. Disputes over US forces and the 2020 Baghdad strike demonstrate that the partnership remains politically contested.
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 the United States have combined substantial security cooperation with deep conflict and recurring disputes over the US military presence. Iraqi governments have worked with the United States on counterterrorism and through the 2008 Strategic Framework Agreement, while the 2003 invasion and later disagreements over US forces have left a lasting strain. The 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad prompted Iraq’s parliament to call for foreign troops to leave.
Areas of tension
- The scale and duration of the US military presence in Iraq.
- Iraqi opposition to foreign troops following the January 2020 US strike in Baghdad.
- The legacy of the 2003 US invasion and occupation.
Key developments
The United States invaded Iraq, beginning a war and subsequent occupation.
Iraq and the United States signed a Strategic Framework Agreement covering political, economic, and security cooperation.
The United States killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a strike near Baghdad airport; Iraq’s parliament subsequently called for foreign troops to leave.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and durability of Iraqi government support for continued US military cooperation have varied.
- The future scope of bilateral security cooperation remains subject to Iraqi political decisions and regional security conditions.