'Very Bad Choice': Trump Threatens To Cut US Support If Iraq Brings Back Nouri Al-Maliki

(MENAFN- Live Mint) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (January 27) warned Iraq against reinstating former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, saying Washington would withdraw support if he returned to power.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was“hearing” that Iraq could make a“very bad choice” by bringing Maliki back as prime minister, blaming his previous tenure for plunging the country into“poverty and total chaos.”

“Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq,” Trump wrote.“If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom.”

Trump added that Iraq should not allow a repeat of Maliki's leadership, ending the post with the slogan“MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN.”

Last week, Iraq's Shi'ite political bloc alliance, which holds a parliamentary majority, announced former Prime Minister Maliki as its nominee for the position.

Maliki, a senior in the Shi'ite Islamist Dawa Party, previously served two terms as Iraq's prime minister from 2006 to 2014. His tenure was marked by sectarian violence, power struggles with Sunni and Kurdish rivals, and escalating tensions with the United States.

He resigned in 2014 after the Islamic State seized large parts of Iraq but has remained influential, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions. Analysts say his potential return signals a consolidation of Shi'ite power amid Iraq's fractious political landscape.

Iraq delays Presidential vote

Iraq's parliament postponed the election of the country's president on Tuesday to give Kurdish parties more time to agree on a candidate, amid growing political tensions and international attention on former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's likely return.

The delay comes days after the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shi'ite political blocs holding a parliamentary majority, endorsed Maliki as its candidate for prime minister.

Maliki's background

Maliki, a senior in the Shi'ite Islamist Dawa Party, previously served two terms as Iraq's prime minister from 2006 to 2014. His tenure was marked by sectarian violence, power struggles with Sunni and Kurdish rivals, and escalating tensions with the United States.

He resigned in 2014 after the Islamic State seized large parts of Iraq but has remained influential, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions.

Parliamentary delay and Kurdish disagreement

The official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported that Speaker Haibat al-Halbussi received requests from Iraq's two main Kurdish parties-the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)-to postpone the presidential vote. The parties are negotiating over the selection of a candidate, with no new date yet agreed.

By convention, Iraq's powerful prime minister post goes to a Shi'ite Muslim, the parliament speaker is a Sunni, and the largely ceremonial presidency is reserved for a Kurd. Traditionally, the PUK has held the presidency while the KDP selects the president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region. This time, however, the KDP nominated Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein for the presidency, challenging the tacit agreement.

Once the president is elected, they will have 15 days to appoint the prime minister. If confirmed, Maliki is expected to return to the premiership, reinforcing the influence of Iran-aligned Shi'ite parties in Baghdad.

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