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Iraq and the Transjordan invade the new state of Israel.
Iraq signs the Baghdad Pact, a mutual-security treaty with Turkey. The United Kingdom, Pakistan and Iran sign the pact in the following months. The United States joins the Baghdad Pact as an Observer.
Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Britain and Pakistan establish the Middle East Treaty Organization.
Iraq endorses the Eisenhower Doctrine. In this policy the United States offers military assistance to any Middle Eastern country under threat from communism.
Iraq and Jordan form a union known as the Arab Union of Jordan and Iraq.
A coup d'etat unseeds King Faisal of Iraq. Iraqi general Abd al-Karim Kassem takes over and proclaims the country a republic. The Arab Union with Jordan is dissolved. Kassem also announces closer ties to Arab nations. Kassem continues to keep Western confidence by not interfering with the oil production.
Iraq withdraws from the Baghdad Pact. Three months later, Iraq also withdraws from the Sterling Bloc, a groups of nations whose currencies are tied to the British pound sterling.
Kassem is overthrown by a group of officers, mainly from the Ba'th Party. Abdul Salam Arif becomes the new president. He advocates Arab nationalism and socialism.
Iraq and Israel go to war in the Six-Day War. Iraq closes its oil pipeline that supplies oil to the Western nations. It also severs diplomatic relations with the United States.
President Arif is overthrown and Major General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr is appointed head of the new government in Iraq. He continues to maintain general hostility towards the West and friendship with the Soviet Union.
Iraq and the Soviet Union sign a treaty of friendship. The two countries agree to cooperate in political, economic, and military affairs. The Soviet Union agrees to continue to supply Iraq with arms.
General Saddam Hussein becomes president of Iraq.
Iraq and Iran go to war over the Shatt al Arab estuary. Iraqi relations with the Soviet Union deteriorates. Nevertheless, the Soviet Union remains Iraq's prime arms supplier during the Iran-Iraq War.
The United States announces renewed diplomatic relations with Iraq. It helps Iraq rebuild its military through bank credits and technology.
Iraq revives a territorial dispute with Kuwait and withdraws only after warnings from the United States.
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