ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani received a message from the United States secretary of state following the third round of US-Iraq strategic dialogue. “In the message, Secretary Blinken expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Barzani’s support and made clear his readiness to deepen the partnership between the United States and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” reads a statement from Barzani’s office published on Saturday. The third round of strategic talks between US and Iraq were the first under the administration of the current US President Joe Biden. Dialogue began under the administration of former President Donald Trump last June. “I welcome the third round of the US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue. The KRG reaffirms its support for the talks. They are a pathway to greater engagement and cooperation – in reform, security, trade, investment, the environment, and clean energy,” Barzani tweeted on Thursday. “I'm optimistic about the road ahead after the review of the progress we've made in each area of our broad and strategic partnership,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Wednesday about his talk with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. In a joint statement released by the governments of both countries on Wednesday, both countries “reaffirmed their strong bilateral relationship, which benefits the American and Iraqi people.” “The discussions covered security and counterterrorism, economics and energy and the environment, political issues, and cultural relations,” the statement added. “The Iraqi delegation also included representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government.” “The United States welcomed progress between the Iraqi Federal Government and the Kurdistan Regional Government in reaching agreements on budgetary, energy, and other strategic issues,” the statement added referring to a long standing budget for oil issue between Erbil and Baghdad that have come to an ease with the passing of the 2021 budget bill by the Iraqi parliament.
