The United States and Iraq are currently discussing a plan to withdraw American troops from Iraq by 2027, according to a new report by Reuters. While no official decision has been made, the plan reportedly calls for hundreds of troops to leave by September 2025, with the remaining troops departing by January 2027.
The US military has been present in Iraq since the 2003 invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime. Following a period of withdrawal in 2007 and a complete departure in 2011, the US re-entered Iraq in 2014 to combat the rise of ISIS. The US has maintained a presence in Iraq ever since, primarily focused on training Iraqi forces and combating remnants of ISIS. However, the ongoing presence of US troops has become a point of contention, particularly with the Iraqi government, which has expressed concerns about the impact on national sovereignty and the potential for increased instability.
While some experts argue that the US withdrawal could lead to a resurgence of ISIS and an increase in Iranian influence, others contend that Iraqi forces are now capable of handling security threats on their own. They also point out that the presence of US troops in Iraq has become a target for Iranian-backed militias, leading to a cycle of violence that has further destabilized the region.
The US troop withdrawal from Iraq comes amid a wider shift in US foreign policy, with a focus on reducing military commitments in the Middle East and redeploying resources to counter the rising power of China. The withdrawal also follows the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which resulted in a chaotic collapse of the Afghan government and the resurgence of the Taliban.
The planned withdrawal of US troops from Iraq is likely to have significant implications for the region, particularly with regards to the fight against ISIS, the growing influence of Iran, and the stability of the Iraqi government. The success of the withdrawal will depend on the ability of the Iraqi government to maintain security and the willingness of the US to provide continued support in the form of training, equipment, and intelligence sharing.
