{ "id": "R45025", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R45025", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 575793, "date": "2017-11-21", "retrieved": "2017-11-28T14:34:29.788567", "title": "Iraq: Background and U.S. Policy", "summary": "The 115th Congress and the Trump Administration are considering options for U.S. engagement with Iraq as Iraqis look beyond the immediate security challenges posed by their intense three-year battle with the insurgent terrorists of the Islamic State organization (IS, aka ISIL/ISIS). While Iraq\u2019s military victory over Islamic State forces is now virtually complete, Iraq\u2019s underlying political and economic challenges are daunting and cooperation among the forces arrayed to defeat IS extremists has already begun to fray. The future of volunteer Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the terms of their integration with Iraq\u2019s security sector are being determined, with some PMF groups maintaining ties to Iran and anti-U.S. Shia Islamist leaders. In September 2017, Iraq\u2019s constitutionally recognized Kurdistan Regional Government held an advisory referendum on independence, in spite of opposition from Iraq\u2019s national government and amid its own internal challenges. More than 90% of participants favored independence.\nWith preparations for national elections in May 2018 underway, Iraqi leaders face the task of governing a politically divided and militarily mobilized country, prosecuting a likely protracted counterterrorism campaign against IS remnants, and tackling a daunting resettlement, reconstruction, and reform agenda. More than 3 million Iraqis have been internally displaced since 2014, and billions of dollars for stabilization and reconstruction efforts have been identified. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi is linking his administration\u2019s decisions with gains made to date against the Islamic State, but his broader reform platform has not been enacted by Iraq parliament. Oil exports, the lifeblood of Iraq\u2019s public finances and economy, are bringing diminished revenues relative to 2014 levels, leaving Iraq\u2019s government more dependent on international lenders and donors to meet domestic obligations. \nThe United States has strengthened its ties to Iraq\u2019s security forces and provided needed economic and humanitarian assistance since 2014, but Iraqis continue to disagree over how U.S.-Iraqi relations should evolve. President Trump and Prime Minister Abadi met in Washington, DC, in March 2017 and, according to the White House, \u201cagreed to promote a broad-based political and economic partnership based in the [2008] Strategic Framework Agreement,\u201d including continued security cooperation. Some Iraqis have welcomed U.S. engagement with and assistance to Iraq, whereas other Iraqis view the United States with hostility and suspicion for various reasons. Prime Minister Abadi has expressed the desire for the United States to provide continued support and training for Iraq\u2019s security forces, but some Iraqis\u2014particularly those with close ties to Iran\u2014are deeply critical of proposals for a continued U.S. military presence in the country. U.S. decisions on issues such as policy toward Iran, the conflict in Syria, the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and U.S. relations with Iraqi Kurds and other subnational groups may influence future bilateral negotiations and prospects for cooperation.\nCongress has authorized a Defense Department train and equip program for Iraqi security forces through December 31, 2019, and has appropriated more than $3.6 billion requested for the program from FY2015 through FY2017, including funds specifically for the equipping and sustainment of Kurdish peshmerga. U.S. military operations against the Islamic State continue with the consent of Iraq\u2019s elected government. Congress has authorized the use of FY2017 funds for sovereign loan guarantees to Iraq and for continued lending for Iraqi arms purchases from the United States. President Trump has requested $1.269 billion to train Iraqis for FY2018 and seeks $347.86 million for foreign aid to Iraq, including $300 million for further U.S. contributions to United Nations-coordinated post-IS stabilization efforts. Appropriations and authorization legislation enacted and under consideration in the 115th Congress generally would provide for the continuation of U.S. assistance and engagement with Iraq on current terms (H.R. 2810, H.R. 3354, S. 1780 and S. 1519).", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R45025", "sha1": "94ae29221770dc45598da3272ff09f4e3b9b9eb5", "filename": "files/20171121_R45025_94ae29221770dc45598da3272ff09f4e3b9b9eb5.html", "images": { "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/5.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_86325b1ecc9527feb4cd186f404620250456d5ca.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/3.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_1592aa02acdbbd1152ffa611f6a8f9ac7075f66b.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/0.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_0bd43d63ef9c6abdcc143ff2728e3b14aa6ced7d.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/6.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_fc239374e9c2bcb925f1a4d76e98975c94fe92e2.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/4.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_d012775787ec20441821a03bc04b6ee4b487ad64.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/2.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_f0e698ccb374fdd902c78e41679185c3ae60bec4.png", "/products/Getimages/?directory=R/html/R45025_files&id=/1.png": "files/20171121_R45025_images_d318d7545776455cd178df73c7138289dfbe4b36.png" } }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R45025", "sha1": "39ee6b5afed250c478fa8c729f1940e8990bd485", "filename": "files/20171121_R45025_39ee6b5afed250c478fa8c729f1940e8990bd485.pdf", "images": {} } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Constitutional Questions", "Intelligence and National Security", "Middle Eastern Affairs", "National Defense" ] }