Last Post
What Xi and Kim Really Want From Each Other
Trump Is Deleting the Data America Needs to Survive
The Scheldt Blockade and What It Tells Us About Hormuz
The Dollar Won’t Crash — But History Says It Will
 Europe Is Pursuing Strategic Autonomy — But Not Without America
Article Submission

Category: Iraq

A large mural on a building in Tehran featuring historical figures and naval ships, with birds flying in the foreground.

Hormuz Standoff Tests Limits of International Law

April 23, 2026

The extension of the US-Iran ceasefire has shifted the battlefield to the legal and maritime domain. In the Strait of Hormuz, competing interpretations of international law—specifically the tension between UNCLOS transit rights and the laws of naval warfare—have created a volatile equilibrium. With 20% of global oil at stake, this managed confrontation tests the limits of international oversight and the resilience of global supply chains.

Read More »
A digital illustration of a man in a suit viewed from behind, standing on a cracked map shaped like Iraq, looking toward a dark, silhouetted skyline with an oil derrick and mosques.

Iraq’s Political Gamble: When Strongmen Return to Fragmented States

February 18, 2026

In early 2026, Iraq finds itself in a state of “organized confusion” as it attempts to finalize its government following the November 11, 2025 elections. The sudden withdrawal of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the push for Nuri al-Maliki’s return have transformed a domestic transition into a high-stakes standoff between Washington and Tehran.

Read More »
Nouri al-Maliki standing behind a podium with multiple news microphones, wearing a green sash and raising his right hand, surrounded by other men in suits against a green background with red Arabic text.

Iraq’s Political Gridlock: When Foreign Veto Power Collides With Domestic Legitimacy

February 16, 2026

Iraq’s political paralysis is not simply the result of domestic factionalism. It is the predictable outcome of a system where external veto power routinely overrides internal legitimacy. The current standoff over Nouri al‑Maliki’s nomination exposes the structural contradiction at the heart of Iraqi governance: sovereignty exists on paper, but government formation depends on which foreign actor is willing to impose the highest cost.

Read More »
Donald Trump in a navy suit and red tie standing next to a smiling man in a reddish-brown blazer in front of two American flags and a blue curtain background.

Trump Epstein Files: DOJ Documents Contradict Presidential Claims on Flight Logs

December 28, 2025

In a major shift toward “business-oriented diplomacy,” President Trump has appointed Detroit entrepreneur Mark Savaya as the U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq. A Chaldean-American with deep regional ties but no traditional diplomatic background, Savaya is tasked with stabilizing Iraq’s economy and curbing Iranian influence. His mission—focused on disarming militias and opening Iraqi oil and energy markets—signals a pragmatic, deal-driven era for U.S.-Iraq relations that prioritizes economic sovereignty over conventional foreign policy.

Read More »
Donald Trump, Mark Savaya, and JD Vance standing together and smiling in front of American flags.

Trump’s Iraq Strategy: Unconventional Envoy Appointment Signals Transactional Diplomacy Shift

December 25, 2025

In a major shift toward “business-oriented diplomacy,” President Trump has appointed Detroit entrepreneur Mark Savaya as the U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq. A Chaldean-American with deep regional ties but no traditional diplomatic background, Savaya is tasked with stabilizing Iraq’s economy and curbing Iranian influence. His mission—focused on disarming militias and opening Iraqi oil and energy markets—signals a pragmatic, deal-driven era for U.S.-Iraq relations that prioritizes economic sovereignty over conventional foreign policy.

Read More »
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani speaking at a green podium with a construction crane logo, surrounded by officials.

Iraq Government Formation: US-Iran Competition Over Militia Influence

December 24, 2025

As Prime Minister Al-Sudani navigates a fractured parliament following the November 2025 elections, Iraq has become the ultimate battleground for US and Iranian influence. With the Trump administration demanding the exclusion of sanctioned militias and Tehran leveraging its strategic assets, the race for the premiership—featuring figures like Nouri al-Maliki and Qasim al-Araji—will determine whether Iraq can maintain its sovereignty or fall deeper into a high-stakes geopolitical confrontation.

Read More »
The flag of Iraq and the United Nations flag standing side-by-side in front of a wall with a large, faded UN emblem.

Regional Mediation and Civilizational Cooperation: Revising Huntington’s Framework

December 19, 2025

The conclusion of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq’s 22-year mandate signifies a critical moment in Middle Eastern political dynamics. It encourages a reevaluation of how regional actors might resolve ongoing conflicts through mediation and cooperation instead of confrontation, highlighting the potential for regional diplomatic leadership to offer new conflict resolution frameworks beyond conventional great power intervention.

Read More »
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres shaking hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani in front of UN and Iraqi flags

Regional Powers Position Mediation Capacity as Alternative to Civilizational Conflict Paradigm

December 16, 2025

UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s visits to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq mark a potential shift from external crisis management to regional diplomatic leadership, particularly highlighted by the formal closure of UNAMI after 22 years. This development challenges Samuel Huntington’s “clash of civilizations” framework by illustrating how culturally connected states can effectively mediate conflicts that hinder international institutions.

Read More »
Close-up of a map showing the region of Gaza, Israel, and surrounding towns like Rafah and Khan Yunus

Iraq 2.0: The Legal Architecture of the New American Occupation in Gaza

December 6, 2025

The adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in late 2025 signifies a significant change in governance for the Gaza Strip, shifting from Israeli military control to an American-led administration. The resolution, while citing “stabilization” and “transitional administration,” reflects strategies analogous to those used during the 2003 Iraq invasion. By forming a “Board of Peace” and a Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), the U.S. positions itself as the new de facto occupying power, leveraging international mandates to obscure violations of Palestinian sovereignty.

Read More »

Regions

Middle East
Asia
America
Europe
Africa

Subjects

Defense & Security
Diplomacy & International Institutions
Economics Energy
Politics & Government
Human Rights
Social Issues
Health and Environment

Multimedia

Cartoon
Podcast
Video

Contact Info

Email

contact@thinktanksmonitor.org

©2025, Hosting. All Rights Reserved by ThinkTanksMonitor