Why did the United States and United Kingdom disagree with France, Germany, and Russia over Iraq inspections?

The disagreement between the United States and the United Kingdom on one side, and France, Germany, and Russia on the other, centered on how to address Iraq’s perceived noncompliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding weapons of mass destruction.12

By early 2003, the U.S. and U.K. governments argued that Iraq was actively hindering weapons inspections and continued to possess prohibited weapons, leading them to conclude that further diplomacy was futile. They sought a second UN resolution that would explicitly authorize the use of military force to disarm the country.132

Conversely, leaders from France, Germany, and Russia acknowledged that Iraq had not fully cooperated with inspectors, but they maintained that the inspection regime should be extended and strengthened rather than abandoned. Citing evidence of increased Iraqi cooperation, these nations advocated for giving Iraq more time to comply with its obligations through continued diplomatic efforts. Ultimately, the U.S. and U.K. bypassed the Security Council, declaring that previous resolutions provided sufficient legal justification for the invasion that began in March 2003.21