An Enhanced European Role in Iraq?

Publication Date: October 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: International relations

Type:

Coverage: Iraq

Abstract:

Bush Administration officials have said that they wish to see NATO countries contribute forces to bring stability to Iraq, possibly as part of a U.S.-led NATO or U.N. force. Key European allies such as France and Germany would first like to see a new U.N. mandate that would include objectives, such as a timetable for turnover of authority to Iraqis and a transparent process for improving Iraq's petroleum industry, that the Administration now opposes. Some European allies do not wish to serve under a U.S. command in Iraq; other European allies already have troops in Iraq.

Administration officials are concerned that greater international involvement in governing Iraq could deflect the United States from achieving some of its stated goals for that country's future. Such goals include establishing a democracy there that would influence other Middle Eastern governments to follow a similar course, and easing of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Some Europeans argue that these goals are unattainable in the framework established by the U.S.-led occupation. At the same time, involvement of European forces, if a common outlook could be worked out, could free some U.S. forces for other missions, dampen international criticism of U.S. management of Iraq, and spread costs for reconstructing Iraq to other countries and the private sector.

See also CRS Report RL31339, Iraq: U.S. Regime Change Efforts and PostWar Governance, CRS Report RL31701, Iraq: U.S. Military Operations, and CRS Report RL31843, Iraq: Foreign Contributions to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Peacekeeping Operations, and Reconstruction.

This report will be periodically updated.