Russian Deputy Prime Minister Russia Dmitry Rogozin in a visit to Baghdad offered to provide more military aid and step up commercial ties, potentially eroding U.S. influence in the war-torn country.
Rogozin led the largest Russian delegation in years with nearly 100 government and business officials.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said on February 11 that discussions revolved around providing military assistance to defeat Islamic State militants who seized a third of Iraq in 2014.
"We need international support from multiple sources, be it from within the international coalition or outside of it," he said, referring to the U.S.-led coalition aiding Iraq in its fight against IS.
Russia has invested millions of dollars in Iraq's energy sector and last year opened a command center in Baghdad under an intelligence-sharing agreement with Iraq, Iran, and Syria aimed at combating IS.
Russian and Iraqi officials signed wide-ranging measures to more than double bilateral trade and boost Iraq's electricity production, which falls far short of peak demand during hot summer months.
Trade last year was nearly $2 billion. Rogozin said Russia could provide Sukhoi Superjet airliners for Iraq's civil aviation.
