Trump Appoints Special Envoy To Iraq

 

 

The United States doesn’t have an ambassador to Iraq right now but President Trump appointed a special envoy to the country. Iraqis are trying to figure out what this means for the relationship between the two countries.

 

In October the White House announced that Mark Savaya would be the United States’ special envoy to Iraq. Savaya is an Iraqi Christian from Michigan who runs a medical marijuana business. He worked on the Trump campaign to get Iraqi Americans to vote for him. He is being sent to Iraq as a reward for his service.

 

There are different opinions in Iraq over what Savaya’s arrival means. Former Foreign Minister and Kurdistan Democratic Party member Hoshyar Zebari told Iraqi News that the Trump administration wants to give special attention to Iraq. On the other hand ex-parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi was quoted in Al Mada saying that he didn’t think Savaya will make any changes in ties between the U.S. and Iraq.

 

So far the Trump administration has focused upon Iraq’s ties with Iran. The president restarted his Maximum Pressure campaign versus Tehran and has talked about Iraq disarming pro-Iran Hashd elements and sanctioned Iraqi banks, companies, Hashd groups and individuals connected to Iran. Will that be Savaya’s main focus or will he take on other issues as well such as American investment in Iraq?

 

Rather than being a change in policy Savaya appears to be an example of Trump’s haphazard approach to foreign relations. He wants Iraq to cut its ties to Iran but wants to do it on the cheap which is why there is no ambassador to Baghdad. Savaya who has no experience at diplomacy is simply a political appointee who is getting a position for his loyalty during the campaign rather than to carry out some new approach towards Iraq.

 

SOURCES

 

Al Aalem, “Washington ends its courtesy to Al-Sudani: Either you or we decide on the weapons of the factions,” 7/13/25

 

Asharq Al-Awsat, “Washington Signals Gradual, Sweeping Sanctions on Iraq,” 3/9/25

 

Bas News, “US Sanctions Iraqi Businessman Over Iranian Oil Smuggling,” 9/2/25

 

Iraqi News, “US sanctions network funding Iran-linked militias in Iraq,” 10/10/25

- “Zebari: Trump envoy pick reflects US distrust in Iraq,” 10/20/25

 

Kurdistan 24, “US Designates Four Iran-Aligned Iraqi Militias as Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” 9/17/25

 

Al Mada, “Savaya received $5 million and will rebuild the economy and protect minorities,” 10/21/25

- “US Sanctions: Dismantling the State of the Factions … and Western Officials Implicated,” 10/11/25

 

Mahmoud, Sinan, “US stresses need for urgency in disarming Iran-backed militias in Iraq,” The National, 10/22/25

 

Rudaw, “US sanctions Iraqi company, bankers tied to pro-Iran militias,” 10/10/25