Iraq is emerging as the Middle East’s strategic connector – but can it turn foreign competition into advantage?

<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/749097/original/file-20260721-57-bywts8.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.1&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1023%2C682&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1050&amp;h=700&amp;fit=crop" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks at the U.S. Iraq Business Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on July 17, 2026, in Washington. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/USIraqBusinessSummit/a1b555346eb14b9ca6927a21ae7b39b0/photo">AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is on something of a diplomatic roll at the moment. Having concluded a weeklong visit to the United States on July 19, 2026, during which he <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/56c86436-5e49-4a86-b4f8-22171363d548?syn-25a6b1a6=1">charmed President Donald Trump</a>, al-Zaidi is now <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/07/20/ali-al-zaidi-to-visit-tehran-