As US Troops Finally Withdraw, Can Iraq Navigate Its Future Security Alone?

The last remaining US troops have officially departed Iraq, marking a major turning point for the nation. The US military was originally deployed to Iraq in 2003 to depose its leader, Saddam Hussein, but subsequently faced a series of crises following his ousting.

In the aftermath, Iraq became embroiled in a cycle of severe violence that significantly weakened the country. While the US intervention may have prevented the total collapse of the state, the administration is also accused of contributing to the subsequent chaos that engulfed the nation.

Now, the Iraqi government must confront a brand-new reality. Is the administration truly up to the job, and exactly who stands to gain from the US finally leaving Iraq? These critical questions were explored by presenter Dareen Abughaida alongside guests Ahmed Rushdi, President of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation; Kenneth Katzman, Senior fellow at The Soufan Center specialising in Middle East geopolitics and US foreign policy; and Abdullah Alshayji, Professor of political science at Kuwait University specialising in US politics and Gulf security.