Bridging the Gap: Multi-Track Diplomacy as a Strategic Necessity for Iraq
Ali Mawlawi
In an era marked by shifting global dynamics and escalating regional instability, Iraq faces both challenges and opportunities to assert its position on the international stage. As the country strives to consolidate hard-won political and security stability and redefine its strategic role, traditional diplomacy alone is no longer sufficient to address the complexities of this changing reality. Official channels of interstate relations often fail to accommodate the multiplicity of interests and diversity of voices and ideas that shape policy formation. Multi-track diplomacy, particularly tracks 1.5 and 2, offers practical and relatively underutilized tools that can enhance the objectives of Iraqi foreign policy. These tracks open parallel channels involving non-governmental figures, semi-official participants, and research and political communities, enabling in-depth dialogues with their counterparts abroad. Such channels provide flexible spaces to address complex, sensitive, or stalled issues in a practical and consultative manner.
