Iraq-US Relations Strain as Trump Threatens to Cut Support Over al-Maliki
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has firmly rejected what he termed a "violation of Iraqi sovereignty" following explicit threats from US President Donald Trump to withdraw American support if al-Maliki returns to power.The diplomatic confrontation emerged after Trump warned on Tuesday that Iraq would be making a "very bad choice" should it select al-Maliki, who was recently nominated by the Coordination Framework, Iraq's largest Shia parliamentary bloc, as their prime ministerial candidate."Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq."The US president's intervention represents the latest in a series of direct political interventions by the Trump administration in foreign nations' domestic affairs, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran's regional influence.Al-Maliki, 75, responded defiantly on Wednesday, condemning what he characterized as "blatant American interference in Iraq's internal affairs." The veteran politician insisted he would not withdraw his candidacy, emphasizing respect for Iraq's constitutional processes."The language of dialogue between states is the only political option for engagement, not resorting to the language of diktats and threats," al-Maliki posted on X, formerly Twitter.The confrontation underscores Iraq's precarious position between its two primary allies: Washington and Tehran. Al-Maliki's tenure as prime minister from 2006 to 2014 was marked by sectarian tensions, corruption allegations, and deteriorating relations with the United States, culminating in his resignation following ISIS's territorial gains in 2014.Despite stepping down, al-Maliki has maintained significant political influence through his State of Law coalition and preserved close ties with Iran-backed factions, positioning him as a key figure in Iraq's Iran-aligned political ecosystem.The United States retains considerable economic leverage over Iraq, as the country's oil export revenues are largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York—an arrangement established following the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.This latest diplomatic friction reflects broader regional dynamics as the Trump administration pursues policies aimed at curtailing Iranian influence across the Middle East, with Iraq serving as a critical battleground for competing geopolitical interests.Source: Al Jazeera
