Rubio warns of Iraq ‘Balkanisation’: Is that a real threat?

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Iraq risks “Balkanisation” unless its armed factions are brought under state control. He made the remarks to reporters at the Palace Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, after meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi Tuesday night. Rubio said Washington had no doubt about al-Zaidi’s commitment to disarming Iraqi armed groups, but called it a massive and difficult challenge. He said at least three armed groups had disarmed and joined the national government, while at least one had been far less cooperative. Bringing all weapons under state control, he said, would mean Iraq no longer had “independent forces operating and balkanising the country”.