MENU Policy Analysis / Articles & Op-Eds Why Russia’s Great Power Game in Iraq Matters by Anna Borshchevskaya Aug 31, 2020 Also available in Arabic ABOUT THE AUTHORS Anna Borshchevskaya Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on Russia's policy toward the Middle East. Articles & Testimony Moscow’s quietly growing influence will only prop up the country’s anti- American forces and worsen its struggles with corruption and ethnosectarian tension. he United States has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraqi security but increasingly faces T competition for influence in Iraq from Russia. Moscow is playing a broad—though quiet—geopolitical game. What’s worse, this advancement has gone unanswered by top policymakers in Washington. Iraq is now led by a pro- American president and prime minister, Barham Salih and Mustafa al-Kadhimi, but the Kremlin knows they are in a precarious position and will continue to quietly vie for influence in the country. In light of al-Kadhimi’s visit to Washington last month, and the importance of broadening the US-Iraq relationship, Russia’s interests matter... Read the full article on the National Interest website. National Interest View/Print Page as PDF SHARE EMAIL ALERTS Sign Up TO TOP RECOMMENDED BRIEF ANALYSIS Qatar’s Council Election Has Gulf-Wide Implications Sep 30, 2021 ◆ Simon Henderson BRIEF ANALYSIS Hurdles for the Iraqi Parliamentary Election Sep 29, 2021 ◆ Jasem Alshamary BRIEF ANALYSIS Navigating the Ongoing Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Negotiations Sep 29, 2021 ◆ Mohamed Maher TOPICS U.S. Policy REGIONS & COUNTRIES Iraq STAY UP TO DATE SIGN UP FOR EMAIL ALERTS 1111 19th Street NW - Suite 500 Washington D.C. 20036 Tel: 202-452-0650 Fax: 202-223-5364 Contact Press Room Subscribe The Washington Institute seeks to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East and to promote the policies that secure them. The Institute is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax-deductible. About TWI / Support the Institute © 2021 All rights reserved. Employment / Privacy Policy / Rights & Permissions.