European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has warned that any disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could have severe economic and security consequences for Iraq, potentially pushing the country toward internal instability.
Speaking about the escalating tensions in the Middle East and Iraq’s future following the planned conclusion of the International Coalition’s mission against ISIS, Kallas said the European Union views Iraq as one of the region’s most vulnerable states. She stressed that the country’s current situation is a growing source of concern for the international community, particularly amid heightened tensions involving Iran and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Kallas said Iraq’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil exports that pass through the Strait of Hormuz, with government revenues largely reliant on uninterrupted energy shipments. Any disruption to this critical maritime route, she warned, could severely undermine Baghdad’s ability to finance essential public services, increasing the risk of widespread unrest and violent internal conflict.
To avert such a scenario, Kallas said the European Union is maintaining close and continuous contact with senior Iraqi officials to identify practical solutions and coordinate preventive measures. She emphasized that the issue extends beyond Iraq’s borders and has become a shared security concern for countries across the region.
The warning comes at a particularly sensitive time as Iraq prepares for the scheduled end of the International Coalition’s anti-ISIS mission in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in September 2026. To date, no final decision has been announced on whether the mission will be extended or replaced by a new security framework.
Against this backdrop, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi is due to arrive in Washington on Monday for a series of high-level meetings with senior U.S. officials. Regional security, the future of U.S.-Iraq military cooperation, and broader strategic relations are expected to dominate the talks as both sides assess the evolving security landscape in the Middle East.