Summary
President Donald Trump has stated that the U.S. will stop supporting Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki becomes the Prime Minister again. Maliki, who previously served as Iraq's Prime Minister from 2006 to 2014, was backed by a group of Shia-led parties for the position. The U.S. is concerned about Maliki's connections to Iran and potential influence on Iraq.
Key Facts
- President Trump threatened to end U.S. support to Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki is chosen as Prime Minister.
- Maliki was Iraq's Prime Minister from 2006 to 2014, a period marked by violence and chaos.
- Maliki has strong ties to Iran and was recently selected by Shia-led parties as their nominee.
- Iraq's parliament delayed electing a president, which is a step needed to nominate the Prime Minister.
- The U.S. is worried about Iran's influence in Iraq, as voiced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Trump's comments come amid historical U.S. interventions in other countries' elections.
- Maliki's past tenure saw increasing sectarian violence and the rise of the Islamic State group.
