The nomination of the former prime minister to reclaim the position has drawn warnings from Washington
Nouri al-Maliki, an Iraqi prime minister who served two terms and is regarded in Washington as being overly close to Iran, has been nominated for a third term. This has led to US warnings of diplomatic and economic consequences and has sparked accusations of foreign interference in the Arab nation’s sovereignty.
So, who is Nouri al-Maliki and why has his potential return to power caught Washington’s eye?
As an early member of Iraq’s Islamic Dawa Party, an opposition group during Saddam Hussein’s regime, al-Maliki spent 25 years in exile in Syria and Iran before coming back to Iraq after the 2003 US-led invasion. He gradually ascended through the political hierarchy and finally became prime minister in 2006. He served two consecutive terms until 2014 – the longest tenure since the invasion – and had previously held other cabinet positions.
Al-Maliki’s first stint in power coincided with some of the most tumultuous years in Iraq’s modern history. Critics claim that his policies, including those related to de Baathification and centralization, exacerbated sectarian divides and Sunni radicalization while failing to control corruption.
Now, following the elections held late last year, Iraq’s dominant Shiite coalition, the Coordination Framework, has backed the 75-year-old al-Maliki as its candidate for prime minister for a third term. This is likely to secure his appointment once a new president is elected. This has triggered a reaction in Washington.
Why has the US expressed opposition to Iraq nominating its own prime minister?
It turns out that Washington has a stake in the matter and believes that al-Maliki’s leadership would move Iraq closer to Iran’s influence.
US officials publicly warned that Iraq could face diplomatic and economic repercussions – including threats to limit access to crucial economic support – if al-Maliki regains the premiership. President Donald Trump said on social media that the US “would no longer assist Iraq” if al-Maliki returns, portraying the politician’s earlier tenure as chaotic and harmful.
How can the US put pressure on Iraq?
Part of Washington’s leverage comes from the oil-dependent nature of Iraq’s economy and the management of its oil revenues. Oil exports account for approximately 90% of the Iraqi government’s income, most of which flows into an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and is managed by the central bank of Iraq – whose ownership lies with the Baghdad government. This is a post-2003 arrangement that has allowed the US to threaten restrictions in past political disputes. Limiting access could severely impact the Iraqi economy, disrupting salaries, pensions, and public services.
The US threats have sparked demonstrations in the Arab country. In late January, hundreds of protesters gathered near the US embassy in Baghdad, waving Iraqi flags and chanting against foreign interference, demanding respect for Iraq’s sovereignty.
How has Al Maliki responded to US opposition?
Al Maliki himself has defiantly responded to Trump, rejecting what he calls “blatant American interference” and insisting that Iraq’s leaders must determine their own future without external dictates. The politician has insisted that he would only step down if the coalition itself withdraws its support.
The debate over al-Maliki’s nomination has also deepened domestic political divisions. While some Iraqis see US pressure as an infringement on other countries’ internal affairs, others remember the instability of his earlier terms, especially the increase in sectarian violence from 2006 – 2008, and oppose his return.
Experts say the deadlock reflects broader tensions within Iraq’s political system, which tries to balance sectarian interests and external pressures while struggling to form a stable government.
Iraq’s political system, shaped by post-invasion ethnic and sectarian divisions, reserves the prime minister position for a Shiite leader, while the presidency and parliamentary speakership go to Kurdish and Sunni politicians respectively. This system often leads to deadlocks based on consensus, such as delays in choosing a new president or prime minister, and al-Maliki’s candidacy has brought those dynamics back into the spotlight.
How does Russia view the situation?
Russia, along with France and Germany at the time, strongly opposed the US invasion of Iraq and warned of the ethnic and sectarian violence that followed.
Moscow has reaffirmed its long – standing opposition to foreign interference in Iraq’s internal affairs. President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia supports Iraq’s unity, sovereignty, and independence and opposes external meddling.