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Significance
This followed a February 15 attack targeting US troops stationed at Erbil airport, in the Kurdistan region, after which the administration launched its first use of force, targeting Syrian positions of Iran-backed Iraqi militias. Beyond this, Baghdad’s place in Biden's Middle East policy strategy is still unspecified.
Impacts
Washington’s new focus on multilateralism will encourage a greater military role for NATO in Iraq.
Biden will restore access to the Special Immigrant Visa programme for Iraqis who have provided "faithful and valuable" US service.
Yet again, pressing security concerns will likely hinder the desire in Washington to reduce its focus on Middle East issues.
Keywords:
Iraq,
United States,
ME/NAF,
Iran,
NATO,
IRAQ/US,
international relations,
foreign policy,
military,
security,
terrorism,
war,
economy
© Oxford Analytica 2021. All rights reserved. This content contains general information about geopolitical, macroeconomic and social developments or (where stated) other matters. It does not contain advice or recommendations that may be relied on. Where links to external websites are provided, this does not indicate that Oxford Analytica or Emerald agree with, endorse or have checked for accuracy the contents of said sites.
2021
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