U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iraq¡¯s largest political bloc against tapping former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to return to office, saying the U.S. would ¡°no longer help¡± the nation if he returns to power.
¡°I¡¯m hearing that the Great Country of Iraq might make a very bad choice by reinstalling Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister,¡± Trump wrote on social media Tuesday. ¡°Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again.¡±
¡°Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq and, if we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!,¡± he added.
Iraq¡¯s largest parliamentary bloc announced Saturday that it had nominated al-Maliki for prime minister. The decision followed elections in November in which the coalition of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani won the parliamentary election. Al-Sudani, however, decided to step aside to end a political deadlock, clearing the way for al-Maliki, a political rival.
Al-Maliki has been a fixture in Iraqi politics for decades, but he¡¯s a divisive figure to many and one who lacks strong relations with the Trump administration. He first served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, but faced fierce blowback from opponents who said he was seeking to centralize power, undercutting the country¡¯s Kurdish and Sunni populations and risking to plunge the country back into all-out conflict.
Trump¡¯s comments come as Iraq finds itself caught between the U.S. and its neighbor, Iran, which has long wielded influence with the country¡¯s Shiite Muslim majority. The U.S. has sought to free Iraq from what it sees as domination by Iran, an effort that also includes a push by the government there to get U.S. oil companies more involved in Iraq¡¯s energy industry.
Deadly protests in Iran earlier this year, initially sparked by a currency crisis and worsening economic conditions but that were increasingly aimed at the regime, have also emboldened the U.S. to challenge Tehran¡¯s sway in the region. Trump cheered on the protesters and warned Iran¡¯s leaders against violently repressing the demonstrations.
Trump downplayed the possibility of an attack in recent days, however, saying that Iran had promised not to execute protesters. He has made clear that the U.S. is watching Tehran¡¯s next steps. Trump in an interview aired earlier Tuesday said that the U.S. had a ¡°big armada¡± headed to the Middle East because of Iran, adding that he hoped not to use it.
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