Rupture in the Iraq–America partnership

Years of tension and slights between the governments of Iraq and the United States came to a head after the United States breached the terms of its partnership with Iraq with the assassination of a group of government officials outside Baghdad International Airport.

Now Iraq is asking the United States to withdraw its troops, and the United States is threatening sanctions against Iraq—one of its most important strategic partners in the Arab world.

How will this crisis affect security in Iraq and the resurgence of the Islamic State? How much of the relationship can be salvaged? What will be the costs for Iraq, the United States, and the surrounding region?

Participants include:

• Sajad Jiyad, managing director, Bayan Center
• Maria Fantappie, special adviser, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
• Thanassis Cambanis, senior fellow, The Century Foundation

Sajad Jiyad is the managing director of Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies in Baghdad.

Maria Fantappie is a special adviser on the Middle East–North Africa region at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland.