Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Iraq H.E. Mr. Elbrus Kutrashev: “Iraq is our ally and like-minded partner in the emerging multipolar world”

We spoke with our guest today, H. E. Mr. Elbrus Kutrashev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Iraq, about many topics, including modern Russian-Iraqi relations and how much this displeases certain “Western partners.” We discussed in detail our countries’ cooperation in the sphere of regional security in connection with the threat of terrorism and also touched upon the question of how attractive Iraq is for Russian investors.

— Your Excellency, at a meeting with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid in December 2025 in Ashgabat, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that our “relations are diversifying and becoming more multifaceted. We are determined to continue working and cooperating.” Our country fully understands Iraq’s importance for stability in the Middle East. Iraq fully understands Russia’s importance as a major power that has consistently supported Arab countries throughout its history. How would you characterize the current stage of Russian-Iraqi relations?

— The President’s words that you quoted are, on the one hand, a directive for my future work, and on the other, a summation of all the efforts undertaken on the Iraqi track not only by me, but also by my predecessors over the decades of multifaceted Russian-Iraqi cooperation. Its foundation was laid by our fathers and grandfathers back in the days of the USSR. First and foremost, it is the fond memory left by the Soviet people who worked on Iraqi soil, those who built Iraq’s oil and gas infrastructure, electric power industry, and water management system. And, finally, they helped the Iraqis strengthen their country’s defense capability.

Since the 90s, Russia and Iraq, each in their own way, have experienced difficult, mostly crisis-ridden periods, which, of course, could not but affect the quality of our relations. However, as soon as our country overcame the difficulties of the transition period, relations with Iraq deepened.

Not even the events of 2003, when Iraq was occupied by the US-led coalition, hindered our ties from progressing in the long term. The invaders assumed that Iraq would forever remain in the orbit of Washington and London, and that Iraqi cooperation with countries disliked by the Anglo-Saxons, including Russia, would be curtailed. This, however, did not happen.

This, among other things, was stated by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart. Modern Russian-Iraqi relations are characterized by maturity, pragmatism, and deep mutual respect, rooted in the history of both the past century and the current one. We have an excellent political dialogue with Iraq and active trade and economic cooperation. The Iraqis did not join the anti-Russian sanctions in connection with the events in Ukraine. They refused to sell Kiev the Soviet and Russian-made weapons in their arsenals. Baghdad’s official position on the Special Military Operation is a neutrality friendly to us. The majority of leading political forces, as well as public opinion, are largely on our side. Many wish for Russia’s victory and do not believe that the Collective West, despite its colossal efforts, is capable of defeating us. Therefore, Iraq is our ally and like-minded partner in the emerging multipolar world.

— At that same meeting, Vladimir Putin emphasized that “we are connected by very deep, long-standing relations. And in the history of these relations, there has not been a single dark spot.” Russia has always stood and continues to stand for the territorial integrity of Iraq; we have always supported the authorities’ efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation in the country. Surely, some “Western partners” do not like this very much?

— Of course they don’t like it. And I already mentioned these particular Western countries in my answer to the first question. In general, the interests of many forces intersect and clash........

© New Eastern Outlook