Isa Blumi, an associate professor in the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Stockholm University, told Sputnik that it’s unlikely the US will suddenly withdraw from Iraq, as corporate interests heavily influence American foreign policy.
“I don’t foresee this happening unless there’s a significant revolution within Iraq or the broader region that forces the US out of these strategic, highly profitable arenas,” Blumi said, in response to discussions about a partial drawdown of US troops from Iraq. He emphasized that the US is not relinquishing its “firm control over Iraq’s oil,” which it continues to exploit. Blumi added that the US presence in the country remains “omnipresent, hegemonic, and willing to use enormous violence.”
While the military presence might change due to the “vulnerability of overt American forces” to aerial attacks, this won’t lessen the US’s grip on the region, he noted. According to Blumi, such adjustments could also serve as a political maneuver aimed at convincing the American public that the US is scaling back its involvement in the Middle East.
Ali Mamouri, a former strategic communication advisor to the Iraqi prime minister, also spoke to Sputnik, suggesting that a US withdrawal could ease tensions in Iraq. However, Mamouri dismissed fears that Iraq would face a collapse like Afghanistan did after the US exit. He highlighted the strength and experience of Iraqi security forces, particularly in combating Daesh, and noted that regional powers are invested in maintaining Iraq’s stability, with no party standing to gain from unrest in the country.