4 factors behind the choice of the American envoy to Iraq, and this is his expected agenda policy

Baghdad- US President Donald Trump’s appointment of an Iraqi businessman, Mark Savaya (40 years old), as a special envoy to Iraq constitutes an exciting turning point in the bilateral relationship.

This decision sparked widespread debate in Iraqi political and security circles, as it is seen as an indication of a new American approach to dealing directly with the Iraqi file away from the usual diplomatic channels. While observers believe that Savaya’s commercial background, political allegiance, and Iraqi origins give him a flexible entry into the complex Iraqi scene.

Envoy Savaya, a Christian businessman of Chaldean origin, is the CEO of companies working in the field of medical cannabis. He received praise from Trump for his role in his election campaign and his understanding of bilateral relations.

While Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shia al-Sudani welcomed the step, prominent Kurdish leader Hoshyar Zebari considered it an American recognition that the situation in the country is “unnatural.”

President Donald Trump’s appointment as his special representative in Iraq, Mark Savaya, a Chaldean Christian American of Iraqi origin, is an acknowledgment that the situation in Iraq is abnormal and requires measures and decisions outside the usual diplomatic and official frameworks to correct and straighten out the turbulent and confusing situation. We wish Mark success in his mission

— Hoshyar Zebari (@HoshyarZebari) October 20, 2025

Many messages

Political affairs researcher, Muhannad Al-Rawi, says that the appointment of Mark Savaya as the US President’s envoy to Iraq represents a “precedent” and carries with it “big messages.”

Al-Rawi told Al Jazeera Net that the presence of a direct special envoy for the US President, “away from the usual diplomatic contexts,” indicates that “Iraq needs a special, direct diplomatic channel between the US President, the Iraqi government, the official channels, and Iraqi political actors.”

Al-Rawi recalled a previous statement by US President Donald Trump in Sharm El-Sheikh, which included that “Iraq has oil, but it cannot manage its money and oil,” considering that this appointment serves multiple messages.

US President Donald Trump confirmed this during the Sharm El-Sheikh summit in Egypt, which was held on October 13/October Currently, he said, “Iraq is a country that has a lot of oil. They have such huge quantities that they do not know what to do with it,” adding, “This in itself is a big problem, when you have a lot and do not know how to deal with it.”

Al-Rawi believes that the appointment of Savaya, who is one of the prominent commercial minds in the United States, reflects a desire to strengthen the economic aspect, noting that the special envoy possesses “broad powers” ​​in the fields of trade, political action, and economic representation, beyond the powers of the ambassador and traditional diplomatic channels.

Al-Rawi considered that Savaya, who is close to the US President, would have “influential” reports, calling on the Iraqi leadership to “deal with flexibility and openness” with this appointment, and the necessity of “investing this opportunity for the benefit of Iraq and its economy.”

Four factors

For his part, security expert Haitham Al-Haiti, in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, believes that choosing Savaya as a special envoy was based on 4 main factors, indicating that this appointment carries strategic implications that go beyond traditional diplomatic frameworks.

These factors, according to Al-Hiti, are:

• Knowledge and personal relationship between Trump and Savaya, as the latter participated in Trump’s election campaign.
• Savaya’s Iraqi origin is consistent with President Trump’s appreciation of Iraqis, Al-Hiti believes.
• Success in a previous mission, specifically breaking the captivity of the Russian-Israeli hostage who was kidnapped in Baghdad.
• Being a commercial figure far from traditional political work, but good at negotiating and understanding, which makes him a potential key to negotiating with non-political forces, “including militias.”

Al-Hiti pointed out that choosing a person in this way represents a transgression of diplomatic and legal lines, as it bypassed the presence of the ambassador and the procedures followed for the passage of appointments through Congress, noting that this transgression indicates Savaya’s ability to sit and negotiate with any forces in Baghdad, even the armed factions listed on the American “terrorist lists.”

Al-Hiti concluded that this “strategic” choice indicates Trump’s desire to negotiate on 3 pivotal issues:

• Iraqi oil contracts: It is expected that the focus will be on introducing American companies and strengthening the strategic relationship in the field of oil and gas.
• The forces “affiliated” with Iran: and their negotiations to deal with them in exchange for their withdrawal from “subordination to the Iranian line,” as he described it.
• Chinese expansion in Iraq.

The security expert confirmed that the expected negotiation process will proceed along two paths:

• The Iraqi government or the next prime minister.
• And armed groups with which an understanding can be reached.

A new direction

Financial and economic expert, Dr. Safwan Qusay, says that the White House’s policy towards Iraq has taken a clear investment and economic direction, which is represented by the appointment of a special envoy for the United States who has broad powers.

In his speech to Al Jazeera Net, Qusay called for the necessity of developing an “investment map” that puts American investments a priority, to benefit from the United States’ ability to develop technology in Iraq and direct oil revenues in the right direction.

He stressed the importance of partnership with the United States to support the growth of the formal private sector and liberate the Iraqi economy from dependency, especially in light of Iraq importing more than $60 billion worth annually from certain countries (such as China, Turkey, and Iran), which hinders local production.

He pointed out that increasing Iraqi competitiveness will be achieved through “the combination of Iraqi capital and American technology,” stressing that American companies in the energy, oil and gas sectors can contribute to their rehabilitation.

The economic expert also pointed out the possibility of exploiting Iraq’s geographical location for export purposes by establishing industrial cities with American participation.

In the banking sector, Qusay stressed the need for American banks and universities to enter the Iraqi market and contribute to human development, in addition to expanding the circulation of the dollar.

Qusay stressed that the broad powers of the American representative could contribute to identifying Iraqi problems and providing assistance, noting that the return on current investment in Iraq is appropriate to attract investments and provide the necessary sovereign guarantees.