Soviet Union's Position on the Iraqi Crisis (1980-1991)

Muhammad, Nahro Ismael

doi:10.32894/1992-1179.2026.168492.1377

	Soviet Union's Position on the Iraqi Crisis (1980-1991)
Kirkuk University Journal: Humanity Studies
Volume 21, Issue 2, June 2026, Pages 564-593 PDF (1.4 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.32894/1992-1179.2026.168492.1377
Author
Nahro Ismael Muhammad^*
Department of history, Collage of Arts, Salahaddin University-Erbil
Abstract
This article analyzes the Soviet Union’s attitude toward Iraq from 1980 to 1991, a period considered one of the most tense phases in the Middle East during the Cold War. It examines the main dimensions of Soviet–Iraqi relations during the eight-year Iran–Iraq War and highlights the ambivalence of Soviet foreign policy, which contributed to the prolongation of the conflict. The article further discusses the impact of the international crises of the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and the Gulf War, as well as Moscow’s diplomatic position within the United Nations. It emphasizes the Soviet Union’s gradual retreat from unconditional support for Baghdad in favor of a more balanced and multilateral approach. This shift was driven by internal transformations within the Soviet Union and changes in the international balance of power. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the newly formed Russian Federation increasingly sought to reorient its foreign policy toward the West, particularly toward closer relations with the United States.
Keywords
relations; foreign policy; United Nations

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