Baghdad is once again at a crossroads, and the world is watching closely. On December 11, 2025, US Presidential Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya sounded a clarion call, warning that Iraq stands at a “decisive moment” exactly 23 years after the fall of the country’s dictatorship. His message, delivered both in person and through a post on X (formerly Twitter), was clear and urgent: Iraq must choose unity and responsible governance, or risk slipping back into fragmentation, economic turmoil, and international isolation.
“No nation can succeed while armed groups compete with the state and undermine its authority,” Savaya declared, according to Shafaq News. This stark assessment comes as Iraq commemorates two major milestones: the eighth anniversary of its victory over ISIS and the successful completion of parliamentary elections. These achievements, Savaya argued, offer a historic opportunity for the country to rebuild its institutions and secure a prosperous future—a chance that, in his view, cannot be squandered.
Reflecting on the past, Savaya noted, “The country was given a historic opportunity to rebuild its institutions and secure a prosperous future.” Yet, he warned, internal divisions have already exacted a heavy toll. “This division has weakened Iraq’s global standing, suffocated its economy, and limited its ability to protect its national interests.” The message from the US envoy was unambiguous: Iraq’s fate hangs in the balance, and the choices made by its leaders in the coming weeks and months will determine whether the country advances toward sovereignty and strength, or slips back into the chaos that has marred much of its recent history.
According to IraqiNews.com, Savaya emphasized that the last three years have shown that “real stability is possible when the government follows a realistic and balanced approach that keeps the country out of regional conflicts and restores focus on national priorities.” It’s a subtle but pointed reference to the dangers of entanglement in the wider regional power struggles that have so often destabilized Iraq. For Savaya, the path forward is clear: “This path must not be disrupted.”
What does it take to walk that path? Savaya offered a prescription: “Stability requires responsible leadership, unity of purpose, and a firm commitment to strengthening the state and its institutions.” He stressed that only through these qualities can Iraq hope to secure a stable future. The stakes, he insisted, could not be higher. “Their decisions will determine whether Iraq advances toward sovereignty and strength or slips back into fragmentation and decline.”
With the memory of ISIS’s defeat still fresh, the anniversary serves as both a celebration and a warning. The parliamentary elections, widely deemed a success by international observers, have set the stage for a new era—if, and only if, Iraq’s political and religious leaders rise to the occasion. “As Iraq marks the eighth anniversary of its victory over ISIS and completes successful parliamentary elections, the responsibility falls squarely on the country’s political and religious leaders,” Savaya stated. The implication is unmistakable: the world is watching, and history will judge the choices made now.
For the United States, the message is one of readiness and support, but also of expectation. “A unified and rational choice will send a clear and unmistakable signal to the United States and the international community that Iraq is ready to claim its rightful place as a stable and respected nation in the new Middle East,” Savaya said. The alternative, he cautioned, is grim: “economic deterioration, political confusion, and international isolation.”
Underlining the gravity of the moment, Savaya concluded, “Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States stands fully prepared to support Iraq during this critical phase.” He pledged that his team “will work closely with Iraqi leaders in the weeks and months ahead to help secure a strong state, a stable future, and a sovereign Iraq capable of shaping its own destiny in the new Middle East.” The US commitment, then, is not just rhetorical—it’s a promise of partnership, contingent on Iraq’s willingness to move forward with unity and resolve.
But what does this mean for everyday Iraqis? For many, the persistent presence of armed groups and the legacy of sectarian strife remain sources of anxiety. Savaya’s insistence that “no nation can succeed while armed groups compete with the state” speaks directly to the need for a monopoly on legitimate force—a cornerstone of any functioning state. It’s a reminder that stability is not just about elections and anniversaries, but about the daily lived reality of security and order.
Over the last three years, Iraq has made strides in this direction. According to IraqiNews.com, the government’s “realistic and balanced approach” has kept the country out of wider regional conflicts and allowed it to focus on rebuilding. Yet, as Savaya and others have pointed out, these gains are fragile. Without “competent leadership, unity of purpose, and a strong commitment to developing the state and its institutions,” the progress could easily unravel.
The international context is also shifting. The so-called “new Middle East” is a region in flux, with old alliances breaking down and new ones emerging. For Iraq, the opportunity to become a “stable and respected nation” is real—but so is the risk of being left behind. Savaya’s message, echoed by both Shafaq News and IraqiNews.com, is that Iraq’s window of opportunity may not stay open forever.
As the world watches, the choices of Iraq’s political and religious leaders will reverberate far beyond Baghdad. Their decisions, as Savaya put it, “will determine whether Iraq advances toward sovereignty and strength or slips back into fragmentation and decline.” It’s a heavy burden, but also a chance for redemption and renewal.
For now, the United States is signaling its willingness to stand by Iraq—if the country can demonstrate unity and purpose. “Savaya added that he is committed to working closely with Iraqi leaders to help secure a strong state, a stable future, and a sovereign Iraq capable of shaping its own destiny in the new Middle East,” reported IraqiNews.com. The challenge, then, is for Iraq’s leaders to seize this moment, put aside old divisions, and chart a course toward a future that is, at last, their own to shape.
In the coming weeks and months, all eyes will be on Iraq. The choices made now will echo for generations. For a nation that has endured dictatorship, war, and the scourge of terrorism, the promise of stability and prosperity is tantalizingly close—if only its leaders can find the unity and resolve to grasp it.
