US administration tuned in to Iraqi elections

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US government is closely watching the upcoming elections in Iraq. The administration has publicly announced that it does not favor any particular candidate. However, there is no shortage of concerns for the next Iraqi government. At the Washington Institute, Iraq experts discuss the upcoming elections and the US concerns.

A fellow at the Institute who has covered all of Iraq's elections since 2005 asserts the significance of Erbil-Baghdad relations and how the upcoming election might impact the relationship.

"We [the United States] are watching it extremely closely, and we have high hopes that the next Iraqi prime minister will keep the country moving in the right direction," says Michael Knights, a Senior Fellow with The Washington Institute.

"But he will also, probably, insist on building closer relationship with Kurds again. Because if there is one negative story over the last year, it's been the breakdown of relations between Baghdad and the Kurds, including armed conflict," added Knights.

Neighbor's meddling in Iraq's domestic affairs, is a major concern in Washington. US administration has a particular distaste for Iranian backed groups within the Popular Mobilization Units. 

"They [the United States] shouldn't feel comfortable on what's currently occurring in Iraq, given there is the institutionalization of many of the Iran backed Shia militias. These groups gained an enormous amount of political power, social power and institutional power. The US does need to take it seriously," Philip Smyth, the Soref Fellow at The Washington Institute says.

Another concern for Washington is the disunity among Kurdish factions. It may weaken the decisive role Kurds have been playing in forming governments in Baghdad since 2005.