US senators visit Erbil, confirm Washington’s support for Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday received two United States senators in Erbil. The visiting delegation reaffirmed Washinton’s “unwavering” support for the Kurdistan Region. 

The delegation included Republican senators Joni Ernst and Ted Budd who both sit on the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

“The delegation reaffirmed the unwavering support of the United States for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing the significant value placed on their alliance with the Kurdistan Region. They commended the crucial role played by the Peshmerga in defeating ISIS [Islamic State] and upholding peace and stability in Iraq,” read a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency. 

The Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces are an ally of the US-led global coalition against ISIS. The military alliance was formed in 2014 to combat the terror group which had  taken over swathes of Iraqi and Syrian land. 

“The President expressed his gratitude to the US Senate and Congress for their continuous support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He emphasized the shared desire of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to enhance mutual cooperation and strengthen relations with the United States,” added the statement. 

The US has provided the Peshmerga with military assistance and financial aid since 2014, enabling them to protect the Kurdistan Region from ISIS attacks.  

Washington is also involved in efforts to make reforms within the Peshmerga, removing political party control from the forces. The US goal is to collect all Peshmerga units under the umbrella of the Peshmerga ministry by 2026.