ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Darden Copeland, a Democratic congressional candidate in Tennessee, has called for stronger US-Kurdish ties and a return to diplomacy, saying Congress must reclaim its role in shaping foreign policy amid growing concerns over Washington's approach to the Middle East.
In an interview with Rudaw's Diyar Kurda on Monday, Copeland said he wanted to see the war in Iran end responsibly and urged Washington to adopt a more consistent approach to its international partnerships, including with the Kurdistan Region.
“We need to return to diplomacy,” Copeland said, criticizing what he described as the concentration of foreign policy decisions in the hands of President Donald Trump.
The comments come as the US transitions toward a new phase in its relationship with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region following the withdrawal of US-led coalition forces, raising questions about Washington's future security cooperation with Erbil and its commitment to regional stability.
‘A little more stability’
Asked how he would help reassure Kurdish allies following the US military withdrawal from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, Copeland said Washington should prioritize diplomacy, cooperation and long-term partnerships rather than continued military confrontation.
“We're letting one man sort of dictate the foreign policy from the United States. And I think that Congress needs to step in and exert that authority back,” he said, emphasizing a return to “a system of diplomacy and goodwill and nation building and not simply sort of continue to be at war.”
Copeland expressed concern about what he described as Congress's reluctance to exercise its authority over foreign policy, arguing that lawmakers should play a greater role in decisions involving military action and international alliances.
“The brainpower of the US Congress, we send our best and brightest to the Senate and the House, and for them not to take a position on these things is troubling to me,” he said.
Under Article I of the US Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war, while the president serves as commander in chief of the armed forces. The division of war powers between Congress and the executive branch has long been debated.
A Democratic majority in the House of Representatives could also increase the security of the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly its decision to enter the war in Iran.
Gregory Aftandilian, a professor at American University in Washington told Rudaw that “If the Democrats win the House of Representatives, which is very likely, there's going to be more scrutiny of the Trump administration's foreign policy, particularly why he got into the Iran war.”
Aftandilian said Democrats could use their subpoena power to compel administration officials to testify before Congress and use their authority over government spending to challenge further funding for the war.
“Congress has the right of appropriations, in other words, allocating money for foreign policy.”
However, Aftandilin stated that control of the Senate remained uncertain and mentioned that the State Department would remain under Trump`s executive branch.
Affordability, accountability
Copeland said the cost of living was among the main concerns he heard from voters across Middle Tennessee, including Kurdish Americans living in Nashville and Clarksville.
“The issues are no different than what the rest of Middle Tennessee is facing. It's affordability. It's the loss of the American dream,” he said.
He cited housing, health care, gasoline and grocery costs, as well as concerns about access to basic services, arguing that rising expenses were making it harder for families to achieve financial security.
Copeland also criticized what he described as corruption in Washington and the distribution of tax benefits, saying ordinary Americans were struggling while wealthy people received tax breaks.
“I think people have sort of had enough,” he said.
Copeland, who said he had lived in the Nashville area for 18 years, described aspirations to act as a “consensus builder and a bridge builder, not just for the Kurds here in the community, but the entire region of Middle Tennessee,” he said.
Congressional control
Copeland also cautioned against assuming that Democrats would control either chamber of Congress after the November midterm elections, saying the outcome would depend on voters.
“We don't know who's going to have control until November the 3rd,” he said. “The only poll that matters right now is the poll.”
He argued that a stronger congressional role could bring greater stability to US foreign policy and reduce abrupt changes in Washington's approach to international conflicts.
“The world is clamoring for a little bit more stability coming out of the United States,” Copeland said.
He added that Washington should focus on de-escalation and maintaining alliances while preserving its military strength.
“We can't rely on the whims of one individual up there in the White House,” he said, arguing that congressional oversight was essential to restoring the system of checks and balances established by the US Constitution.
