Iraq

Iraq is a strategically pivotal state in the Middle East, sharing borders with Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait and the Persian Gulf, which places it at the crossroads of regional rivalries. It operates as a federation with a parliamentary system; the presidency (held by Abdul Latif Rashid) is largely ceremonial while executive power rests with the prime minister (Muhammad Shia' al-Sudani), reflecting a sectarian power-sharing arrangement among Shia, Sunni and Kurdish communities. Baghdad must balance close ties with neighboring Iran against a continued security relationship with the United States, while the autonomy of the Kurdistan Region and the legacy of conflict with the Islamic State remain enduring fault lines. Internal challenges include factional politics, the influence of armed groups, corruption, and disputes over revenue and territory between the federal government and Kurdistan.