ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A top US delegation arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Wednesday, telling Prime Minister Masrour Barzani that Washington sees the Kurdistan Region as an important ally in the Middle East.
The delegation, headed by US Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, met with Iraqi top officials on Tuesday, and arrived in Erbil on Wednesday.
During their meeting with PM Barzani, US officials “reaffirmed the attention President [Joe Biden] and the US government pays to bolstering relations with the Kurdistan Region which is an important ally of America in the region,” according to a statement from the premier's office.
“The delegation praised the Kurdistan Regional Government’s reforms, especially Peshmerga Ministry’s reforms. They reaffirmed that America and the global coalition will continue supporting Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism, especially Daesh,” added the statement, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (ISIS).
The US-led global coalition against ISIS has provided the Kurdistan Region with military, logistic and financial aid since 2014. The US is involved in the Region’s efforts to unite Peshmerga forces, especially those affiliated to both the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
The KRG has also made financial reforms following a dramatic decrease in its income, mostly due to the suspension of federal budget flow from Baghdad.
The delegation also met with President Nechirvan Barzani, discussing several issues including the fight against ISIS, recent strategic talks between Washington and Baghdad as well as Kurdistan Region’s relations with the US.
“The top US delegation conveyed the greetings of US President Joe Biden, prime minister and the secretary of defense to President Nechirvan Barzani,” read a statement from President Barzani’s office.
The delegation also met with leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Erbil.
