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

In the years since 2014, Germany has supported Iraq with more than 3.4 billion euro within the context of development cooperation, stabilisation and humanitarian assistance. This makes Germany one of Iraq’s three largest donors, alongside the United States and Japan. The security situation in many parts of the country has improved significantly thanks to the support of the international community. Almost five million of the six million internally displaced persons have returned to their homes.

Germany’s military engagement within the context of the Global Coalition against Daesh and the NATO mission in Iraq supplements German and international civilian stabilisation efforts. Among other things, it involves providing advice on capacity-building for the regular security forces and armed forces, fostering civil-military cooperation and supporting operations through air-to-air refuelling and ground-based air policing.

Germany is also engaged in Iraq specifically in connection with the impact of climate change. Iraq is on the list of countries worldwide that are most affected by climate change.

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 2021, the bilateral volume of trade comprised imports to the tune of 938.8 million euro and exports totalling 889.4 million euro. One beacon of German-Iraqi economic relations 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, several hundred Iraqi students and academics come to Germany through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The DAAD also promotes cooperation between German and Iraqi universities. This includes 14 university partnerships. The Goethe-Institut has a branch in Erbil and is also successively expanding its activities into central and southern Iraq. In January 2023, the foundation stone was laid for a Franco-German cultural institute in Erbil.