Saudi Arabia and Iran are competing for influence in Iraq, say analysts. Emerging from years of war, Iraq is welcoming closer ties with all its neighbours, but wants to stay out of regional disputes, instead asserting itself as a mediator.
In Baghdad on Saturday, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi chaired a summit of parliamentary representatives from all Iraq’s neighbours: Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran.
“The stability of Iraq is necessary for the stability of the region,” read a statement issued on conclusion of the summit. The six visiting nations – oft-times fierce rivals – collectively rejected “interference” in Iraq’s internal affairs.
Iran was a key supporter of Iraq during the war against ISIS and is now keen to build and expand ties. Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi on March 12 signed a range of agreements with Iran in Tehran. A month later, on April 17, he did the same thing in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
Countering Iran is a big motivator for Saudi Arabia, which has pledged $1.5 billion in loans and support for Iraq, argued security expert Hisham al-Hashimi.
“Saudi Arabia is trying to build ties with Iraq through economic, cultural and educational windows,” he explained. “This also is a clear move to limit Iranian influence in Iraq, especially in al-Diwaniyah, al-Samawah and parts of Najaf, Anbar and Nineveh.”
Baghdad’s goal in befriending Saudi Arabia is not to alienate Iran, but to be “a fulcrum and a starting point for all the countries of the region away from conflicts and debates,” argued political analyst al-Qasab.
Devastated by years of war, Iraqis are demanding a government that focuses on providing services and jobs, and improves quality of life. To do that, Iraq needs all the friends and investment it can get.
But Baghdad should be cautious, warned economist Bassem Jameel Antoine. Every state operates with its own best interests as top priority.
“We hope that Iraq will assign a clever negotiator who’s aware and can bring investments and not turn Iraq into a country that consumes its exports in the Iraqi market at the expense of the productive sector, in order to get partners,” he said.
Reporting by Arab24