An exodus of Western oil companies from Iraq has left Russia in a very advantageous position when it comes to negotiating its production deals there Russia and Iraq have been tussling over production and profits at the West Qurna 2 oil field for years, and now Russia feels it has the opportunity to improve its position there Russia has always put geopolitical influence ahead of economic returns in Iraq, but now the opportunity has arisen for it to secure both Given the mass exodus of major Western oil companies from Iraq in recent months, and no sign of this reversing any time soon, Russia and China are in an even better position to advance their own interests in the oil- and gas-rich country. The opportunity has in no way been diminished by Iraq’s elections in the last couple of weeks that left anti-U.S. firebrand cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, in place […]