Moscow’s Iraq strategy: Make lots of friends

... the highest-level political leaders and contacts among “unofficial players” in the region. Based on Maximov’s recent meetings, one can see Moscow’s attempts to maintain contacts with virtually all important actors — from major politicians in Iraqi Kurdistan such as Massoud Barzani, Iraqi Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers Mahdi al-Alaq , Vice President Nouri al-Maliki and National Wisdom Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim , among many others. Therefore, while Russia’s strategy ...