Germany and Iraq enjoy amicable relations. Full diplomatic relations were re-established in 2004. A German Consulate General was opened in Erbil in 2009.

Since 2014, Germany has supported Iraq with more than 3.6 billion euro within the context of development cooperation, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance, making it the country’s second largest donor after the United States. The goal of this engagement is to consolidate achievements in the area of stabilisation, drive forward the diversification of the economy, generate more training opportunities and help transform the energy sector. Germany is also supporting state capacity-building in order to enable approximately 1.1 million internal refugees to return home.

The security situation in many parts of the country has vastly improved since so-called Islamic State’s territorial reign of terror, not least thanks to the support of the international community. Almost five million of the six million internally displaced persons have returned to their homes. Germany provides military support in Iraq within the context of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the NATO mission in Iraq, offering advice on capacity-building for the Iraqi security forces and armed forces, fostering civil-military cooperation and supporting operations such as air-to-air refuelling and air transport.

The Iraqi Government is working to intensify bilateral economic relations. The German Chamber of Commerce in Iraq with offices in Baghdad and Erbil is the official representation for German business in Iraq. In 2023, the bilateral volume of trade comprised imports to the tune of approximately 1.6 million euro and exports totalling approximately 1.2 million euro. One beacon project is the engagement of Siemens Energy, which is contributing to stability in Iraq through grid expansion and the boosting of power generation capacity.

Germany and Iraq also cooperate closely in the cultural and education sectors. Each year, many Iraqi students and academics come to Germany through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Cooperation is also fostered between German and Iraqi universities. One of the most important cooperation projects is the Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology in Dohuk, which is financed with Federal Foreign Office funds. The Goethe-Institut has its main branch in Erbil and a small branch in Baghdad. In January 2023, the foundation stone was laid for a Franco-German cultural institute in Erbil.