Khor Abdullah and Iraqi Foreign Policy: Between Domestic Pressures and Regional Balances

Abstract

This research examines the Khawr Abdullah dispute as one of the most complex issues in Iraqi foreign policy after 2003, given its constitutional, domestic, regional, and international dimensions. The first section focuses on internal factors shaping Iraq’s stance, including the constitutional and political debates surrounding the 2012 agreement, the role of public opinion and social movements, and the economic considerations linked to strategic projects such as the Grand Faw Port. The second section analyzes regional and international dynamics, starting with Iraqi–Kuwaiti relations, the influence of Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the role of external intervention, particularly the United Nations Security Council and major powers such as the United States and China. The study concludes that the Khawr Abdullah case represents a complex intersection of domestic and external interests, highlighting Iraq’s limited capacity to formulate an independent foreign policy under overlapping pressures.