Major political intrigue is unfolding as sources reveal Mark Savaya, President Trump’s special envoy for Iraq, is no longer in his post. The twist? Some suggest he never officially started, despite Savaya himself denying any change in his role!
This development comes during a tricky time for US-Iraq relations, with Washington pushing hard to limit Iranian influence in Iraqi politics. Savaya, a Christian Iraqi-American entrepreneur with no prior diplomatic experience but strong ties to Trump, was a surprising choice for the role. He was part of Trump’s broader effort to win over Arab-American voters.
So, what exactly happened? One key reason cited is Savaya’s alleged “mishandling” of crucial situations. Specifically, he reportedly failed to prevent the potential nomination of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a figure Trump openly warned Baghdad against. Maliki, accused by the US of past sectarian strife, was seen as too close to Iran, and his potential return would have been a major blow to Trump’s efforts to curb Iranian power.
While Savaya claims he’s still working on administrative procedures, sources insist he never became a State Department employee. Adding to the mystery, his X (formerly Twitter) account, active until recently, suddenly vanished.
It’s believed that Tom Barrack, currently US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, might be unofficially taking over the Iraq portfolio. This personnel shuffle highlights the high-stakes diplomatic tightrope between Washington and Baghdad, as Trump continues his campaign to curb the influence of Iran-linked groups in Iraq. It’s a complex situation, demonstrating the delicate dance of international politics.
