Iraq's Shia Bloc Stands Firm Behind Al-Maliki Amid Trump's Threats
The Coordination Framework, a powerful Shia alliance in Iraq's parliament, has reaffirmed its backing for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, despite US President Donald Trump warning that withdrawal of American support would occur if he was chosen as the country's next premier.
In a statement released on Saturday, the coalition reiterated its support for al-Maliki, asserting that selecting a prime minister is an exclusive Iraqi constitutional matter devoid of foreign interference. This stance directly counters Trump's assertion that Washington would pull out its backing from Iraq if al-Maliki is appointed to the position.
Al-Maliki, 75, has been a dominant figure in Iraqi politics for decades and was at the helm as prime minister between 2006 and 2014, during which time he faced intense power struggles with Sunni and Kurdish rivals. He also had strained relations with the US, notably due to allegations of corruption.
In recent months, Trump's administration has taken steps aimed at curbing the influence of Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, a move that has been perceived as an attempt to counterbalance Tehran's regional ambitions. Al-Maliki, who enjoys close ties with Iran-backed factions and remains influential through his leadership of the State of Law coalition, is seen by many observers as a key player in this game.
The US holds considerable sway over Iraq due to the fact that its oil export revenue is largely placed at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York under an agreement reached after the 2003 invasion.
The Coordination Framework, a powerful Shia alliance in Iraq's parliament, has reaffirmed its backing for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, despite US President Donald Trump warning that withdrawal of American support would occur if he was chosen as the country's next premier.
In a statement released on Saturday, the coalition reiterated its support for al-Maliki, asserting that selecting a prime minister is an exclusive Iraqi constitutional matter devoid of foreign interference. This stance directly counters Trump's assertion that Washington would pull out its backing from Iraq if al-Maliki is appointed to the position.
Al-Maliki, 75, has been a dominant figure in Iraqi politics for decades and was at the helm as prime minister between 2006 and 2014, during which time he faced intense power struggles with Sunni and Kurdish rivals. He also had strained relations with the US, notably due to allegations of corruption.
In recent months, Trump's administration has taken steps aimed at curbing the influence of Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, a move that has been perceived as an attempt to counterbalance Tehran's regional ambitions. Al-Maliki, who enjoys close ties with Iran-backed factions and remains influential through his leadership of the State of Law coalition, is seen by many observers as a key player in this game.
The US holds considerable sway over Iraq due to the fact that its oil export revenue is largely placed at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York under an agreement reached after the 2003 invasion.
This whole thing smells like a setup to me... Trump's just trying to exert more control over Iraq's government, and now he's using Al-Maliki as leverage. I mean, come on, has this guy not heard of democracy? 
It's all about playing the Shia card against Iran, if you ask me. And don't even get me started on the Federal Reserve thing... what's really going on with that oil revenue deal? Is it a way for the US to manipulate Iraq's economy or something? 
I'm telling you, there's more to this story than meets the eye...
. Trump's threats may seem like empty words, but they can still have a significant impact on the country.
. It's great to see him being supported by his Shia bloc, but it's also a reminder that there are still many powerful players at play in Iraq.
. You'd think that after all these years, we'd have figured out how to navigate this stuff without getting our noses dirty 
.
.
Trump's threats are really scary tho like who does he think he is? 
I mean I know Al-Maliki has been in power before and all but still this feels super intense. The Shia Bloc is being super loyal to him which is kinda cool 
but I'm worried about the whole US thing... like what if they really do pull out their support? 
How's Iraq gonna deal with that? 
. And now with Trump's threats it's like, what's next? 
but honestly I'm just gonna be over here on the edge of my seat waiting for updates 
al-maliki has been a major player in iraqi politics for ages and his supporters are super passionate about him getting another shot 
i think it's cool that the coordination framework is sticking up for him despite trump's threats 
maybe this is just another example of how americans need to learn to respect other countries' sovereignty 
. Al-Maliki has been a major player in Iraqi politics for ages, so it's not like he's going to get cold feet now. The Coordination Framework is solidly behind him because they know what's best for their country, not some American president trying to exert his influence from afar. And let's be real, Trump's got nothing on al-Maliki - the man's been in the game longer than most of us have even heard of Iraq! 
. The Iraqis know what they're doing, folks, no need to worry about some tweet-storm from Trump.
. The thought of someone being chosen as prime minister based on foreign interference is really unsettling, isn't it? 
.
.
It seems like a classic case of great power politics at play here - the US trying to exert its influence over Iraq through its preferred candidate, while the Shia bloc is steadfast in its support for Al-Maliki. I mean, who can blame them really? The US has been quite heavy-handed with its backing for certain candidates in the past, and it's only natural that the Iraqis would want to maintain their sovereignty on this issue. Plus, given Al-Maliki's decades-long grip on Iraqi politics, it's not like he's some kind of rogue element - he's a seasoned player who knows how to navigate these waters. I'm actually quite intrigued by the implications of Trump's warnings - does this mean that the US is more willing to take a hard stance against Iraq if its interests are perceived as being threatened? 
So I heard from a reliable source (wink 
) that the US doesn't really have much leverage over Iraq's politicians right now. Like, they can tweet all they want, but at the end of the day, it's up to the Iraqi parliament to decide who leads the country. And trust me, those Shia blocs are not going to let al-Maliki go down without a fight... he's like the ultimate Iraq politician 
. I mean, the guy has been around for decades and knows how to play the game. Trump might think he can threaten them into submission, but I don't see it happening. The US is just trying to balance its own regional interests, not really caring about Iraq's internal politics. And let's be real, al-Maliki's got a lot of friends in Iran who will back him up if needed 
. So yeah, the US might pull some strings, but ultimately, it's up to the Iraqis to decide who their next leader is 
.
I'm all for Iraq having its own politicians making their own decisions, but Trump's actions seem super overbearing.
.
They deserve our understanding and solidarity, not this kind of toxic politics 
.
. I'm no expert on Iraqi politics, but it seems to me that if Trump wants out, he should just leave – after all, they say the US is made up of 50 states, not 51... or in this case, more like "I'm outta here!" 
Either way, it's gonna be interesting to watch! 