By Anas al-Bar | 2023-11-09

Following the defeat of the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), the United States has worked with Iraq to counter terrorism, build Iraq's defensive capabilities and support reconstruction and the return of displaced persons.

The relationship between Iraq and the United States has reached a "very positive level," political analyst Tariq al-Shammari told Al-Fassel.

The diplomatic activity of US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski and the level of communication between US officials and Iraqi leaders "have given relations greater vitality and effectiveness," he said.

US government initiatives have contributed "to alleviating the effects of the war on terrorism," al-Shammari said.

These have included "helping Iraq rebuild destroyed cities, return displaced residents, and provide them with humanitarian and economic support," he said.

Iraq is 'key partner'

In an October 24 phone call, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani reiterated their intent to cooperate to ensure regional security.

They also "renewed their commitment to continue strengthening the US-Iraq 360-degree partnership," the US State Department said.

Al-Sudani "is our key partner as we work to maintain regional stability and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians," Romanowski said October 25 on X (formerly Twitter).

The following day, Romanowski met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and again "reaffirmed our commitment to regional stability & the #USIraq360Partnership," she said on X.

The United States is the largest provider of humanitarian assistance in Iraq, having invested nearly $3.4 billion since 2014 to help Iraqis recover from the devastation caused by ISIS.

Last year alone, the US government provided $150 million in development assistance and $285 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq, according to a US State Department statement published February 15.

Moving forward, Washington and Baghdad "are working together to foster stability, to accelerate and broaden economic opportunities, to bolster Iraq's democracy, and to help the government meet the needs of all Iraqis," it said.

Ending over-reliance on Iran

One key area of assistance is in helping Iraq achieve energy self-sufficiency by harnessing the natural gas emitted by its oil wells and by connecting Iraq's electricity grid to the grids in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Jordan.

Iraq's Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP), the contract for which Iraq officially signed in July with French firm TotalEnergies, is a major step toward achieving energy self-sufficiency -- and toward eliminating the need to rely on Iran for energy provisions.

The massive project will include participation from regional and US companies.

Once complete, it will increase the domestic supply of electricity and reduce health problems associated with the harmful practice of gas flaring, according to a White House statement.

The US government has played an "effective role in protecting Iraq's funds from leaking to Iran, fighting all forms of corruption, and developing the system of transparency and smart banking management through joint work mechanisms with Iraqi officials," al-Shammari said.

Other US priorities include supporting the Iraqi government's programs in the areas of food security, regulating water use, confronting the effects of climate change and investing in clean energies.

Sustained relationship

The United States also continues its efforts to reduce the threat of ISIS by training and advising Iraqi forces.

This partnership contributed to freeing more than 4.5 million Iraqis from the tyranny of ISIS, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during an August 7 meeting in Washington with his Iraqi counterpart, Thabet al-Abbasi.

"Together, we are working to repatriate Iraqi origin fighters and families from Syria, which is crucial for the enduring defeat of ISIS," he added.

In the first quarter of this year, Iraq and Syria recorded a decrease in ISIS attacks, said international coalition commander US Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane.

Through the first week of April, there was "a record of a 68% reduction in attacks when compared to the same period last year [in Iraq]. In Syria... we recorded a 55% decrease during the same time," he said April 24.

It will be important to keep the fight against remnant ISIS cells strong "to prevent them from regrouping and catching their breath," an Iraqi military expert who asked to remain anonymous told Al-Fassel.

He also condemned Iran-backed armed groups that continue to launch attacks against US forces and the international coalition in Iraq, without regard to the consequences of their actions on the security and interests of the country.

There is a close "strategic framework" relationship between Iraq and the United States that is "developing and growing stronger in more than one direction," he said. "Efforts should be continued to sustain it."