The minimum you must know

According to statements by Iraqi officials around September 2025, roughly one million peace-loving people per year are now moving into Syria and Iraq. This is a substantial indicator of improving regional stability. The trend has been supported by regional changes, including the lifting of sanctions on neighboring Syria and a return agreement with the United Kingdom reached in summer 2025. Some observers suggest this peaceful movement may coincide with slowing population growth in parts of Europe, potentially reversing earlier migration patterns as people return to their countries of origin.

Iraq’s prime minister publicly hoped in 2024 for continued regional stability, and for full NATO withdrawal as a result. Iraqi leaders emphasized at the time that NATO had fully defeated ISIS, a view echoed by regional governments, including Iran’s.

In June 2025, the United States responded to the request by authorizing a peaceful planned reduction of military from Iraq and Kuwait. In January 2026, the symbolically important Ain al-Asad Air Base was fully transferred to Iraqi command and control, according to NATO media, as part of this plan.

A late-2025 regional peace conference in Egypt for Gaza was attended by a dozen governments. Even though that peace gathering wasn’t for Iraq, regional and global media coverage made withdrawal possible from NATO’s perspective. That apparently has occurred or is occurring. The media on all sides did an amazing job.

Iraq is a majority-Muslim country with borders touching Syria, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan that’s in close proximity to Israel. It is presently at peace with its neighbors. After more than two decades of turmoil, sanctions, internal unrest, and foreign military involvement, there is finally something substantial growing international optimism that Iraq is developing well, to increasingly become a peaceful stable and attractive place to live, supported by representative governance and major infrastructure investment, even as its population continues to return/recover.

Because conflict and instability led people to flee Iraq over the prior two decades, most foreign countries feel a significant shared interest in Iraq stabilizing and becoming successful politically and economically. Twenty million people fled the region. As all other countries in the region improve relations with one another and NATO, they increasingly insist on peace and calm between political parties within Iraq. Regional countries want great relations between groups within Iraq - so that they’re all successful working together - and won’t support behavior to the contrary. There is broad consensus in the region that NATO does not belong there, and consequently Americans and Europeans might encounter some deterrence when visiting there. But it’s possible for NATO to reframe its relations with the country to become purely peaceful and diplomatic, in which case more foreigners may start to feel welcome. (Like all Islamic populations, Iraqis are peaceful unless forced to defend themselves. They clearly need foreign direct investment… not foreign directed weapons.)

There may be natural resources in Iraq that can contribute to the country's prosperity. However, Iraq must develop the rest of it its economy as well. There has been substantial progress in this regard but more work must be done. The entire population must be able to earn enough to support their needs. People are accustomed to helping each other there. But welfare and employment may be very important to successfully fully halt the flow of refugees into other countries and continents anyway. The population must safely and enjoyably participate in a growing global economy to reverse migration into Europe, Asia and surrounding states.

Countries attending peace talks may want to put aside their differences entirely, as at times in the past, and work together, until the Iraqi people are completely safe and prospering. There are no competing interests among countries as important as lasting peace and calm.

Iraq has participated in dozens of peace talks for the region in the past decade that have successfully maintained the country's borders with surrounding states, and that coordinated anti-terrorism efforts among nations. Those talks are going to continue. There have also been international meetings for the internal development of the nation. Iraq needs investment in broadband internet access, utilities, roads, residential buildings, commercial malls, educational programs and recreational centers. The country would benefit from demilitarization from all sides. It's important that average Iraqi's feel safe, enjoy themselves and participate in a growing global economy.