During a meeting with Iraq's vice-president Nuri al-Maliki, Vladimir Putin noted that the situation in the Middle East and Iraq remains difficult. We see this perfectly, we understand, the president of the Russian Federation. According to RIA Novosti, Putin especially noted good cooperation between the two countries in the field of military-technical cooperation, where Russia actively helps Iraq.
Strengthening Russia's position in the Middle East region has led to the fact that more and more countries have begun to seek more dense cooperation with Moscow. Following Syria, the Russian army called for Iraq. Vice President of the country Nuri al-Maliki on the eve of the meeting with Vladimir Putin said: "We would like Russia to have a weighty presence in our country in political and military terms. Thus, an equilibrium would be created that would benefit the region, its peoples and its countries ".
Baghdad is also ready to cooperate in the oil and energy sector, in the scientific field, in particular, in the university training of economics and trade specialists. Apparently, the proposal of the Vice-President of Iraq goes beyond purely military cooperation, reminding of its scope about the times of the USSR.
Recently, it became known about the agreement between Russia and Iraq to supply Baghdad with several hundred T-90 tanks worth about $ 1 billion. In 2016, the corporation "Uralvagonzavod" has already sent to Iraq a batch of 73 such combat vehicles.
Moscow also supplied arms and opponents of Baghdad - Iraqi Kurdistan troops received anti-aircraft ZU-23-2. In addition, Rosneft has concluded a series of agreements with Iraqi Kurds in the field of hydrocarbon production, exploration and transportation.
In September, Iraqi Kurdistan should hold a referendum on independence. Baghdad, Tehran, Damascus and Istanbul strongly disapprove of the isolation of the Kurds, considering it a threat to the territorial integrity of their countries.
Senior researcher of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Boris Dolgov told the "Free Press" that Russia should "enter" into Iraq, observing precautionary measures. Between Moscow and Baghdad, there are long-standing ties, many civil servants and army leaders of Iraq have been trained with us, the expert recalled.. It should be understood that Iraq today is in a difficult situation - the terrorist threat remains, although Mosul and released, and there is danger of the collapse of Iraq in connection with the forthcoming referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan.
According to Dolgov, there is a danger of partitioning Iraq according to the confessional character. The Sunnis, who partially took the side of IGIL (IG-banned in the Russian Federation) - is part of the population of Iraq. Another serious factor is the influence of Iran, where the majority of the population is Shiites. Iran is now an ally of Russia, so it is important for Iraq to rely on Russia to solve internal problems. For us, this could mean strengthening of positions in the Middle East, the expert believes..
First of all, the military-technical direction should develop, says Dolgov. As for the presence in Iraq of a full-fledged Russian military contingent, we must first understand the purpose of such a presence. In particular, as a military participation in the fight against the Kurds, it is unacceptable. And here against ИГИЛ - yes.
How likely is the clash of Russian and American interests in Iraq? The positions of our countries are almost the opposite, recalls Dolgov. The Americans are dealing with an independent Kurdistan, and hence the dismemberment of Iraq. It turns out that the US interests in Iraq, like in Syria, do not coincide with ours, therefore confrontation in one form or another is quite possible.
In turn, military expert Boris Rozhin reminds the "Free Press" that the buildup of the Russian presence in Iraq should not go to the detriment of relations with Iran, which is Russia's strategic ally in the region. Russia has long been supplying weapons to the Iraqi army, but before a large military presence, as in Syria, did not reach. According to Rozhin, Russia can strengthen its presence through a regular army or PMCs, it is also possible to use military advisers and equip a military base somewhere in the Basra area.
Calling on Russia, Iraq actually signs that it does not control its own territory, trying to balance the influence of other countries.
In eastern Iraq, there are bases of the United States, there are also bases of supply of IRGC, through which the supply of both formations in Iraq and the formations located in Syria. In Iraqi Kurdistan there are also Turkish military bases. The region is really getting a little crowded, says Rozhin. And Russia is necessary here to compensate for the American threat.
According to the expert, Moscow does not make sense to aggravate relations with Washington throughout the Middle East. Therefore, Maliki will promise something, perhaps this will be the same option as with Haftar in Libya.