IMPLICATIONS OF TRUMP’S “GREAT IRAQ” SPEECH: A COURTSHIP WITH THE OPPOSITION OR A CONDITIONAL MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT?

IMPLICATIONS OF TRUMP’S “GREAT IRAQ” SPEECH: A COURTSHIP WITH THE OPPOSITION OR A CONDITIONAL MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT?

Political and strategic affairs researcher Ali Nasser confirmed today, Thursday (July 10, 2025), that US President Donald Trump’s recent message to Iraq, in which he described the country as “great Iraq,” carries symbolic and political dimensions that may shape the relationship between Baghdad and Washington in the coming period, especially in light of the accelerating regional changes.

Nasser told Baghdad Today , “Trump’s message included striking phrases such as ‘Great Iraq’ and ‘We will never disappoint you.’ These are not just diplomatic compliments, but carry profound implications related to the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.”

He explained that “the United States continues to view Iraq as a key pillar of its Middle East strategy, amid shifts related to tariffs, investment, and military alliances.”

“Great Iraq” is a term with a double effect.
Trump’s description of Iraq as “great” has sparked various interpretations within Iraqi political circles. According to Nasser, some analysts linked the term to attempts to court Iraqi opposition groups abroad, who had previously officially called for changing the country’s name from “Iraq” to “Great Iraq,” as a symbol of a break with the current political regime.

But Nasser believes that “the United States uses this symbolic language as part of its balanced messages, especially if it obtains Iraqi guarantees regarding the protection of its regional interests and the expansion of economic and security partnerships.”

Nasser points out that the other phrase in Trump’s message, “We will never let you down,” represents what he described as a “double-edged sword,” as it could be interpreted as a conditional commitment from Washington to continue support if the Iraqi government proves its ability to fulfill its commitments, most notably protecting American interests, stabilizing the region, and signing new bilateral agreements beyond the strategic framework.

He also warned that “the absence of these guarantees could push the United States to strengthen its alliance with Iraqi opposition groups abroad,” referring to what he described as “a soft, open-ended political escalation.”

Observers: The message has more than one meaning.
According to observers, Trump’s message goes beyond diplomatic courtesy. Rather, it may mark the beginning of a new phase of the US carrot-and-stick policy toward Iraq, based on a clear trade-off between supporting the current government and opening broader channels with the opposition, should disagreements over security presence and regional influence persist.

Popular readings suggest that the phrase “Great Iraq” may not be entirely innocent, but may instead serve as a cover for a more distant purpose: to enable alternative narratives of political legitimacy within Iraq, and perhaps to reshape national identity from abroad.