Iraq in the Balance of Regional and International Alliances: Missed Opportunities and Persistent Restraints

This research focuses on Iraq’s position within regional and international alliances post-2003, highlighting the missed opportunities and persistent obstacles that hinder its foreign policy role. It analyses Iraq's alliances with major regional and global powers while examining the internal and external political factors limiting Iraq’s decision-making independence. The study employs two main methodologies: a deductive approach to understand and analyses the contexts, and a foresight approach to build a future vision for Iraq's foreign policy. It concludes that Iraq has a significant geopolitical and strategic position that could be leveraged to strengthen its role; however, foreign interventions, internal divisions, and corruption remain major challenges. The research recommends adopting balanced foreign policies that enhance national sovereignty and capitalize on available diplomatic and economic opportunities.