If former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki overcomes challenges to form a new cabinet, it would likely deepen internal divisions, strain relations with the United States, embolden Iran-backed militias and increase Iraq's exposure to U.S. economic pressure and U.S. and/or Israeli military strikes. On Jan. 27, U.S. President Donald Trump warned against the Jan. 24 decision of the Shiite Coordination Framework, or SCF, an umbrella organization of pro-Iranian Shiite political parties, to nominate former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form the next Iraqi cabinet. Trump posted on Truth Social that "Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again," threatening to halt all U.S. aid to Iraq. According to the Iraqi constitution, once the parliament elects a president, a process which is ongoing, he will need to formally name the next prime minister within 15 days...
