THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CHANGING THE RULES OF WAR IN IRAQ: A SOFT POWER STRATEGY TO WRITE A NEW CHAPTER
The US Congress’s vote to revoke the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq represents a significant shift in the relationship between Baghdad and Washington, after more than three decades in which Iraq’s name was legally associated with a state of open war.
The decision, which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2026, raised fundamental questions about its political and security implications, and the extent of its actual impact on Iraq’s sovereignty, internal stability, and foreign relations.
While the Iraqi government sees the move as the culmination of a long process of restoring sovereignty and ending the legacy of wars, experts and analysts argue that the cancellation does not mean a complete withdrawal of American influence, but rather reflects a shift from the logic of direct military intervention to other tools, security and economic, that may be more influential in the next stage.
sovereign transformation
Iraqi government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi, speaking to Shafaq News Agency, merely referred to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry’s statement as Baghdad’s clear official position regarding the American decision.
The State Department described the US Congress’s vote to revoke the two authorizations as “historic” on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, considering it a fundamental turning point in changing the legal nature of the relationship between the two countries.
The ministry confirmed in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the cancellation establishes a new form of relations based on respect for Iraq’s sovereignty, ending the legacy of war, and strengthening the framework of strategic partnership, which sends a positive message to the international community that Iraq has become a safe and attractive environment for investment.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry stressed that this decision does not undermine counter-terrorism efforts, explaining that the 2001 mandate to combat al-Qaeda and associated terrorist groups remains in effect, while affirming Baghdad’s commitment to developing bilateral relations in a way that serves the interests of both countries and the stability of the region.
From conflict to partnership
In this regard, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Foreign Relations, Farhad Ala’a Al-Din, believes that the decision to cancel the authorization to use force against Iraq represents an important political and legal step, reflecting the fact that Iraq today is a fully sovereign state, and that the stage of war is now a thing of the past.
Alaa al-Din explained to Shafaq News Agency that the decision confirms the shift in the relationship with Washington from a logic of conflict to a logic of partnership and mutual respect, noting that its security implications are represented in strengthening the principle of sovereignty, supporting political stability, and establishing a normal relationship between the two countries.
A message of reassurance
For his part, security expert Sarmad Al-Bayati considered the decision to have a dual importance, as it carries a clear message to the international community and to the Iraqi interior that the country is no longer threatened by an imminent military danger.
Al-Bayati told Shafaq News Agency that the importance of the decision lies in confirming that Iraq is now safe and does not need foreign military intervention as was the case in previous years, noting that the cancellation gives the Iraqi government momentum and strength in managing state affairs without pressures related to the possibility of using military force.
He explained that the decision contributes to strengthening internal and external stability, and undermines any perceptions or possible scenarios of military interventions by other countries under the pretext of the security situation in Iraq.
military independence
In the same security context, a high-level security source confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that Iraq is increasingly relying on its own capabilities, especially in the air domain, where military operations are managed and airstrikes are carried out under full Iraqi management, with a remarkable development in arming the army.
This comes in light of the announcement by the US-led Combined Joint Task Force on November 5, 2025, that the Iraqi armed forces had obtained full certification to carry out independent airstrikes, after achieving 100% targeting accuracy using F-16 and AC-208 aircraft.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that this achievement is a historic step towards Iraq becoming self-reliant in confronting ISIS, stressing the decline of the organization’s traditional threat and the dispersal of its fighters.
Change tools
For his part, political analyst Ramadan Al-Badran explained that the decision to cancel the mandate is inseparable from the broader American strategy based on avoiding direct military intervention with invasion forces in different parts of the world. Al-Badran told Shafaq News Agency that the lack of need for such authorization in the Iraqi case is one of the reasons for the cancellation, in addition to granting the US president different powers to manage limited tactical operations targeting any threats to the security or interests of the United States or its allies.
He pointed out that one of the most prominent features of this shift is the increasing reliance on small drones, especially in the Middle East, which means withdrawing authorization to use conventional armies without reducing Washington’s ability to act to protect its interests.
This comes in conjunction with the announcement by the US Central Command, at the beginning of December 2025, of the formation of a new task force for attack drones in the region.
alternative economy
From an academic perspective, Haitham Al-Hiti, a professor of political science at the University of Exeter in Britain, found that the cancellation of the authorization to use force against Iraq represents the beginning of a new phase in which the American state of war with Iraq officially and completely ends.
However, Al-Hiti warned, in his interview with Shafaq News Agency, that this shift does not necessarily mean a reduction in American pressure, but rather a shift to the economic and financial sphere.
He pointed out that any future problem between Baghdad and Washington could be managed through sanctions or financial accountability tools, given the United States’ control over important aspects of the global financial system.
He said the decision coincided with the US Department of Defense being granted the authority to reduce security assistance by up to 50%, reflecting a clear trend to focus on economic rather than military dealings.
Al-Hiti concluded that the biggest challenge facing Iraq in the next stage will be economic and financial, in light of population growth, the accumulation of debts, and the problems of corruption and random employment, which Washington is well aware of and seeks to deal with through non-military means.