Iraq struggles between the fight of Iran and the US. How can Europeans intervene?

Prime Minister of Iraq, Mustafa al-Kadhimi has announced that the scheduled parliamentary election will be held in June next year which was originally supposed to be held in 2022. Even the United Nations appreciated his decision and said, “it would promote greater stability and democracy in the country.”

Even as he announces the elections prior to the scheduled dates, one can not neglect the crisis Iraq had been facing. It might not be as huge as what Yemen and Lebanon is facing but Iraq’s economic crisis and the political losehand comes with its over dependence on aids from the United States and the neighbouring ally, Iran. Iraq has had a long and tiring battle with ISIS and now struggles to find the balance between the needs and promises of the country. Clearly, the state of the country is far from stable.

Iran has a great say in Iraq’s politics and America seems to be influencing Iraq a lot lately. Both the rival nations are fighting and unheard battle in the land of Iraq. Both these nations are testing patience and power over the already struggling nation. At a time like this, it is extremely urgent for a forign party, essentially European nation, to interfere in the region. But this time not with the intention to gain control but to stop Iraq from collapsing. 

The oil prices going down and the country battling coronavirus is already affecting Iraq. If this continues further, which it will given the virus spread, the economy will be in pieces before we realise. This gives ISIS an opening. Iraq or Iran or even the US cannot afford ISIS to re-birth from ashes and destroy the already destroyed region. Here European governments can certainly step in. Their best opportunity is now when Iraq has a newly appointed Prime Minister, who is willing to win the public's trust at all costs. Though it will be too much to ask for some major economic or political reforms, what EU can help with his orientation and sharing the dependence with the US and Iran.

This is not only a matter that concerns Iraq because instability in Iraq will mean giving birth to a lot more factors like migration. If people find Iraq to be unstable or dangerous to live then certainly will look for displacement. They will look to shift to a safer region and Europe is the first one to be held on. Europe should claim a majority stake in Iraq as America tries to get away with this responsibility. This is the only possible way that Iraq can sustain itself.