Baghdad pushes back on US warning of Iraq fragmentation
Shafaq News – Doha
Iraq’s foreign minister on Sunday formally objected to comments by Washington’s special envoy for Syria that warned Iraq could slide toward internal division, reaffirming that the country’s democratic and federal system is constitutionally entrenched and irreversible.
According to a statement from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, during a meeting with US Envoy Tom Barrack on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said that Iraq’s political structure reflects popular will and is anchored in the constitution, stressing that the country’s governing model remains intact despite persistent pressures.
Hussein reviewed Iraq’s post-2003 transition, describing a prolonged effort to entrench institutional rule after decades of centralized repression, and said any return to authoritarianism is decisively rejected.
The talks also addressed the conflict in Syria, where he emphasized the need for broad national representation and a comprehensive political dialogue. He said Iraq stands ready to share its experience in navigating political instability and security threats.
Highlighting the depth of Iraqi-American cooperation, Hussein pointed to the US role in the US-led coalition that dismantled ISIS’s territorial control.
Barrack expressed appreciation for Hussein’s assessment of Iraq’s modern political evolution and said that Washington “views the Iraqi experience with respect.” He clarified that his earlier statements referred to past US policy decisions rather than an evaluation of Iraq’s current course.
The exchange follows Barrack’s recent interview with The National, in which he criticized the earlier US strategy in Iraq, warning of the risk of fragmentation into rival federal entities. He said Iran expanded its influence by exploiting the vacuum left by US missteps and argued that armed groups gained power at the expense of parliamentary authority.
