This study examines the bilateral relations between Russia and Iraq during the period leading up to the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, particularly in the context of the fundamental transformations that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite the structural changes in the international system, Russian-Iraqi relations maintained strategic significance due to their role in shaping political and economic balances in the Middle East and reflecting mutual interests, especially in energy, arms, and international diplomacy.
The relations experienced significant transformations driven by internal challenges faced by Russia after the Soviet disintegration and Iraq’s crises resulting from international sanctions and economic blockade following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
This research aims to analyze these relations across three key periods:
The first section explores the 1990–1996 phase, following the Gulf War and the onset of sanctions.
The second section covers 1996–2000, marked by the implementation of the Oil-for-Food Programme and Russia’s evolving stance in the UN Security Council.
The third requirement deals with Russian-Iraqi relations between 2000 and 2003, which focused on economic cooperation.
The study provides a comprehensive analytical vision to understand the political and economic contexts surrounding this relationship and their impact on regional and international balances.