What are the determinants of NATO’s existence in Iraq?
May 16, 2020, 5:00 pm

What are the determinants of NATO’s existence in Iraq?

Diyari Salih

Since 2003, NATO has been trying to consolidate its ties with the Iraqi state. While Iraq was addressing the threat of Da’ish in 2014, NATO offered its readiness to give help in case the Iraqi side formally asked for it. As a part of a mutual program between them, NATO had sent in 2011 a delegation to train and rehabilitate the Iraqi forces. In 2017, NATO asserted its strategic alliance with Iraq in the fight against Da’ish, the organization endangering the international community. NATO’s existence in Iraq

NATO promises that its presence in Iraq will mean that there is a strong Iraqi army. It alleges that this will make Iraq more secure and the Middle East more stable. Therefore, it’s advisors have begun their works with the Iraqi authorities to reform the Iraqi military and security institutions.

NATO’ surge in Iraq

a couple of months ago, the US president, Donald Trump, demanded NATO to reinforce its troops in Iraq. He wanted to minimize the burden on the American side in this context. Here, it is worth noting that NATO’s delegation in Iraq includes 500 members and has started its work since 2018.

There is still a lack of clarity in Iraq’s vision towards NATO. Iraqis are divided as some of them want this organization to stay. This coincides with the reappear of Da’ish.

Some media sources have stated that moderate Shiite politicians might be less aggressive towards NATO. They affirm that it did not give orders to assassinate Qasim Sulaimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis near Baghdad airport. They also state that the US is not the only party in this organization. In return, many other NATO members – Germany, France, and the UK- might be more welcomed in Iraq. Hence, NATO might be permitted to stay without any direct American participation. As it seems, this will be one of the Iraqi conditions to deal with NATO.

For cooperation with NATO, stipulations have been established by some Iraqi parties. They have announced that it must not have any forces on the ground, nor must it use Iraq’s airspace. Moreover, they have insisted on the protection of Iraqi sovereignty. By this, they would prevent regional powers – Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia- from breaching this principle. These politicians are planning for restoring Iraq’s role in international affairs. Thus, NATO’s future in Iraq will be one of the files to be discussed in the next Iraqi-American dialogue scheduled for the coming weeks.

Iran also has its word in this scene. In 2018, when NATO demonstrated its desire to establish a permanent military base in Iraq, it rejected that agenda and repeated it would not let NATO have a formal presence near its border. Iran believes that NATO is plotting to target its geopolitical influence in this region. Thus, its leaders have reiterated that they will never tolerate this event. NATO’s existence in Iraq

PMFs and NATO

The relations between popular mobilization forces (PMF) and NATO are not stable. Many Shiite factions have declared their refusal for the presence of foreign troops, including NATO. They exposed that if any external power does not respect this request, it would be dealt with as an enemy violating Iraqi sovereignty. Therefore, they have many times threatened to target any foreign power if it does not leave the country.

Many signs prove that we might see an escalation in the discourse of the PMFs against NATO. They consider the presence of NATO in Iraq as an umbrella for the American troops. They also think that if NATO remains operating on the Iraqi land, this will be a reflection of the American aspirations. Consequently, they refuse the notion stating NATO’s presence is welcomed in this country.

Nowadays, many important leaders in the PMFs are hinting that NATO considers them a military force acting outside the authority of the Iraqi state. They suppose it is a clear message consistent with the American attempts to demonize the Shiite fighters. Hence, it is expected that they will mobilize their followers to classify NATO as a hostile force that has no right to stay on the Iraqi soil. This will hinder their mutual relations and put Baghdad in an embarrassing situation.

The PMFs claim that NATO has started to interfere in Iraqi political affairs. Some months ago, NATO criticized the ways on which PMFs relied to deal with protest movement engulfing the country, describing those means an absolute tragedy. Thus, NATO called the government to restrain those atrocities, stressing it had no relations with those groups. In return, NATO demanded Baghdad to give more tasks to the Iraqi military institution to curb that violence. Shiite leaders said that NATO was preparing a conspiracy to topple their strategic place in the Iraqi scene.

In conclusion, all these variables will affect the relations between Iraq and NATO. Forces opposing NATO’s role in Iraq will remain effective. Furthermore, geopolitics will also overshadow this subject and might make it more difficult. This means that this relation will be organized under special conditions agreeing with the ambitions of these players. Otherwise, NATO will not be able to stay safe in Iraq. NATO’s existence in Iraq

Diyari Salih is an Iraqi academic working at al-Mustansiriyah university. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Geography from the University of Baghdad and a Post-Doctorate in International Relations from the University of Warsaw. His research focuses on geopolitical issues in Iraq. He tweets at @DiyariFaily

By: Diyari Salih

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.