In February 2025, the former Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi returned to Baghdad after more than two years abroad. His return came at the invitation of political leaders, reflecting Mr Al Kadhimi’s standing as a unifying figure trusted across the political spectrum.
Moustafa Al Kazemi’s return came despite ongoing security threats, during a period of profound change in the country. Regional geopolitics have had clear and inevitable repercussions for Iraq. As the country continues to navigate those challenges, it is difficult to gauge the full scope and nature of those consequences. Nevertheless, Mr Al Kadhimi has highlighted the need to learn from the experiences of others, drawing not only on Iraq’s past but also on events across the region to avoid repeating the same costly mistakes. Mr Al Kadhimi points out that true wisdom lies in examining those experiences, identifying the underlying causes and outcomes to lay the groundwork for a better future.
Having served as Prime Minister of Iraq from 2020 to 2022, Mustafa Al Kadhimi also served as Foreign Minister for a brief stint. Prior to taking public office, he worked as a national journalist for many years.
Mr Al Kadhimi first left Iraq during the 1980s after criticising the regime of Saddam Hussein. During his years overseas, he built an extensive network of both international and domestic relationships. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the few figures capable of bridging the gap between domestic crises in Iraq and shifts in international politics.
Mr Al Kadhimi is credited with spearheading negotiations that led to the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. He also helped facilitate talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran that led to a thaw in hostilities between the two countries. In addition to forging strong ties to the US, Mustafa Al Kadhimi has worked closely with various other national intelligence agencies.
After completing his tenure in public services, Mr Al Kadhimi decided to step back from his political life, leaving Iraq for both professional and personal reasons. In addition to serving as Prime Minister, he was formerly Head of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service from 2016 to 2022 and was in urgent need of respite following years of heavy responsibility.
During his hiatus, Mustafa Al Kadhimi observed the landscape from a distance, enjoying a period of quiet reassessment, reflection, evaluation, documentation and the development of ideas. He appreciates all too well the need for composure and innovation of thoughtful and effective solutions in response to rapid ongoing shifts across the region. Rather than being governed by emotion, Mustafa Al Kadhimi suggests a need to be guided by human, ethical and national values in the service of the greater good, i.e. Iraq, its people and the wider region.
Having invited Mr Al Kadhimi back to the country, current Iraqi political leaders hope that he could leverage his extensive connections to help them confront an advancing economic crisis that threatens national stability. Having established good relations with both Saudi Arabia and the United States, Mustafa Al Kadhimi could help Iraq to strengthen its cross-border ties.
Arriving by private jet in February 2025, Mustafa Al Kadhimi was greeted by a security detail assigned by the Iraqi government to former heads of state. Prior to his return, signs were emerging that suggested Baghdad may have lost its ability to connect with critical US decision-making circles, as well as its immediate neighbours.
In February 2025, the former Iraqi Prime Minister played a leading role in talks in Baghdad as Senator Marco Rubio pushed to counter Iranian influence. During a telephone call between Rubio and the Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al Sudani, the two sides discussed a US–Iraq strategic partnership, along with the importance of Iraq’s sovereignty and stability. They also spoke about continuing efforts to prevent a resurgence of ISIS, as well as moves to counter Iran’s influence.
