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President Nechirvan Barzani (left) in a meeting with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the first day of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday, February 13, 2026. Photo: Nechirvan Barzani/X
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - As part of his diplomatic engagements, President Nechirvan Barzani of the Kurdistan Region met with the President of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom’s national security advisor, discussing regional developments and the importance of strengthening bilateral relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the international community.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of the first day of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on Friday.
“We discussed potential areas of cooperation between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and Azerbaijan, among other issues,” President Barzani wrote in a post on X.
President Barzani also held talks with the UK’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell.In pictures: Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan on Friday, on the sidelines of the #MSC2026.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 13, 2026
"We discussed potential areas of cooperation between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and Azerbaijan, among other issues," said… pic.twitter.com/wUmQFBrC3K
According to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency, their discussions focused on “the latest security and political developments in Iraq and the surrounding region, as well as the ongoing threat of terrorism.”
Both sides “emphasized the necessity of continued collaboration between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region with the United Kingdom to effectively address the threat of terrorism and maintain stability,” the statement added.
Powell reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to "supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, while commending the Kurdistan Region’s role in promoting peace and stability in the region," according to the statement.
President Barzani traveled to Germany at the invitation of the Munich Security Conference.Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with the United Kingdom’s National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, on Friday on the sidelines of #MSC2026. pic.twitter.com/OHPBr2IktO
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 13, 2026
He has attended the MSC for several years, underscoring the Kurdistan Region’s ongoing engagement in international security discussions.
The 62nd edition of the Munich Security Conference runs from February 13 to 15 at Munich’s Hotel Bayerischer Hof. More than 1,000 participants are expected, including heads of state, government leaders, and senior officials from major international organizations.
This year’s agenda addresses a broad range of topics, from global security risks to emerging challenges in space and technology.
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