A US report proposes a sustainable strategy for “controlling weapons” in Iraq and calls for “special” attention to Kurdistan.

A US report proposes a sustainable strategy for “controlling weapons” in Iraq and calls for “special” attention to Kurdistan.

2026-09-18

Shafaq News – Special Translation
According to the American newspaper ” The Washington Times ,” Iraq faces one of the most important tests in the post-2003 era: the test of choosing between law and arms, the results of which could also shape the broader security and energy landscape in the Middle East, noting the need to deal with the Kurdistan Region with special attention.

The American newspaper explained in a report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, that at the heart of this challenge lies a fundamental question: Will the state become the sole authority authorized to use armed force, or will parallel armed structures continue to operate as an integral part of the country’s political system?

She noted that this question is increasingly intertwined with Baghdad’s relationship with the United States, pointing to Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zubaidi’s visit to Washington, where more than 50 agreements worth more than $60 billion were announced, with the participation of major American companies, and a large part of them relates to oil, natural gas, electricity, infrastructure and the development of safe ways to export energy.

Iraqi-American non-military relations

The report suggested that this indicates that relations between Baghdad and Washington have an opportunity to evolve beyond the military context of the past two decades, moving towards a broader economic and strategic partnership.

However, he considered that the main obstacle was the continued existence of armed power centers that were not fully subject to the state, since it is not possible to maintain any investment worth tens of billions of dollars in the long term without the rule of law, security and political stability. Therefore, placing weapons under the authority of the state is a prerequisite for rebuilding state authority and establishing a stable economy.

After noting that the Iranian-linked Iraqi factions pose a particular challenge, the report stated that disarmament must extend beyond the collection of weapons to include placing the chains of command, economic activities, and decisions related to war and peace under the authority of the state.

Energy security

At the same time, he pointed out that Iraq could become an important node in the Middle East’s energy security architecture, but achieving this requires Baghdad to demonstrate its ability to protect energy resources and pipelines, and, most importantly, to make economic decisions.

The report said that Washington is increasingly viewing armed groups in Iraq from an economic perspective as well, referring to the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department on groups, companies and individuals linked to Iran.

He stressed that “state sovereignty is essential, but attempting to disarm tens of thousands of militants without a well-defined political and security strategy involves serious risks.”

A sustainable strategy for arms control

The report proposed developing a sustainable strategy that includes a mix of legal pressure, political negotiation, dismantling illicit economic networks, integrating qualified personnel into legitimate state institutions, and dissolving independent military command structures.

However, he believed that one of the principles that should not be negotiable is the existence of a state governed by the rule of law, because there cannot be two independent authorities authorized to use military force.

He pointed out that this is a test for US President Donald Trump, who presents himself as a dealmaker to resolve difficult conflicts, calling on Washington to approach the next stage with strategic caution, so that reducing US and coalition forces does not unintentionally create a vacuum that strengthens armed groups allied with Iran.

Kurdistan Region

Based on these calculations, the report considered that the Kurdistan Region deserved special attention, explaining that for decades the region had been one of the United States’ most reliable partners in Iraq.

He added that it is rightly clear that a strong and secure region can contribute to a stronger and more stable federal Iraq.

He went on to say that Washington must ensure its strategy does not weaken trusted partners at the very moment when Iranian-backed networks might seek to exploit a changing security environment.

He explained that supporting the security, economic resilience, constitutional rights, and ability of the Kurdistan Region to attract international investment is an important part of a broader American strategy aimed at strengthening Iraqi sovereignty.

The report concluded by saying that if Baghdad can bring weapons under state control without dragging the country into internal conflict and simultaneously separate economic activity from illicit networks and armed influence, Iraq could emerge in the next decade as one of the most important economic and energy centers in the Middle East.

However, the “historical question” in Iraq, as the report states, is “Will the law have the final say, or the gun?”

shafaq.com