ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday said the Kurdistan Region and Iraq are seeking a stronger partnership with the United States, stressing that Iraq's long-term stability depends on upholding the constitution, federalism, and the rights of the Kurdistan Region.
In a post on X marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, Barzani congratulated US President Donald Trump and the American people.
"On the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I extend my warm congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump and the people of the United States," Barzani wrote.
He praised the American constitutional system, saying, "America’s enduring lesson is that liberty requires more than power. It requires a Constitution, institutions, federal balance, and the consent of free people."
President Barzani said those principles should also guide Iraq's future as relations between Washington, Erbil, and Baghdad continue to deepen.
"As the Kurdistan Region and Iraq look to a stronger partnership with the United States, we believe the same principle remains essential for Iraq’s future: stability must rest on constitutional commitments, federalism, and the full protection of the rights and status of the Kurdistan Region within the Iraqi Constitution," he wrote.
President Barzani also expressed appreciation for Washington's longstanding support, saying, "We remain grateful for America’s friendship and leadership, and its continued support to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq."
Washington and Erbil have maintained close ties for decades. The United States has been one of the Kurdistan Region's principal backers since it secured autonomy in the 1990s, playing a key role in supporting and training the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, particularly through the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS). Washington also remains the leading supporter of ongoing Peshmerga reform efforts.
The United States established its diplomatic office in Erbil in February 2007 before upgrading it to a consulate general in 2011.
Last year, Washington officially inaugurated its new consulate compound in Erbil, regarded as the largest US consulate in the world. Speaking at the opening ceremony, US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas described the facility as "a testament to our commitment and is a physical symbol of America's long-term partnership with Iraq and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region."
Rigas also said the United States sees opportunities to deepen cooperation with both Erbil and Baghdad, adding that the new compound reflects Washington's commitment to delivering "tangible outcomes" through its long-term partnership with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
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