{
  "id": 12781610,
  "title": "US wraps up military mission in Iraq, giving Baghdad room to strengthen China ties",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-wraps-up-military-mission-in-iraq-giving-baghdad-room-to-12781610",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T04:00:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Reuters Business via SCMP",
    "slug": "reuters-business-via-scmp",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3370072/us-wraps-military-mission-iraq-giving-baghdad-room-strengthen-china-ties"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has formally concluded its military mission in Iraq, a move analysts predict could provide Baghdad with greater flexibility to foster diversified partnerships, potentially benefiting China's energy and commercial interests. However, experts emphasize that the US withdrawal is unlikely to create a power vacuum for Beijing to seize, as China lacks both the ambition and capacity to assume the US security role in the region.\n\nOperation Inherent Resolve, the US-led military campaign that began in 2014 to combat the Islamic State, officially ended on September 30, marking the completion of a withdrawal agreement reached in 2024 under the administration of former US President Joe Biden. The mission has since been replaced by an Iraqi-led security effort, while Washington has pledged to maintain targeted training and intelligence support for Iraqi forces.\n\nThe US presence in Iraq, spanning two decades from the 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, has recently diminished to reflect a strategic shift towards partnership-based diplomacy. Analysts point out that China's engagement with Iraq, particularly in the energy sector and infrastructure projects, predates the US withdrawal and would continue independently of the US presence. Li Weijian, a researcher at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, contends that the reduced US involvement could grant Iraq enhanced autonomy in navigating foreign affairs, potentially fostering a more balanced diplomatic approach.\n\nWhile China does not seek to replace the US or assume its security role in Iraq, Beijing has long pursued economic ties with the country, including energy investments. Li Weijian emphasizes that China's interest in Iraq remains focused on securing energy supplies and supporting the development of Iraq's oil industry, without necessitating a security role. Kenneth Katzman, a senior fellow at the Soufan Centre, similarly asserts that China does not envision assuming a security role in Iraq, underscoring Beijing's limited force-projection capabilities and reluctance to engage in such endeavors.\n\nThe US withdrawal from Iraq comes amid the country's efforts to balance close security and political ties with both Washington and Tehran. Pro-Iranian factions in Iraq have long advocated for the removal of US forces, with Iraqi militias intensifying attacks on US troops following the US-led strikes on Iran in late February. China's interests in Iraq are primarily anchored in stability and predictability, with greater Iranian influence or renewed instability posing potential risks to its economic investments and regional influence, according to analysts.",
  "summary": "The US has ended its military mission in Iraq, a move analysts said could give Baghdad more room for diversified partnerships and indirectly benefit China’s energy and commercial interests. But they cautioned that the shift was unlikely to create a power vacuum for Beijing to fill, with China lacking both the ambition and capacity to take on the US security role. The United States formally ended…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "US wraps up military mission in Iraq, giving Baghdad room to strengthen China ties",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/us-wraps-up-military-mission-in-iraq-giving-baghdad-room-to",
        "published": "2026-10-08T04:00:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}