“Italy’s relations and joint military and security cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, support and role of Italian forces in the fight against terrorism, the situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and the threats of the resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS)” were discussed in the meeting, said a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Crosetto arrived in Erbil on Saturday and was received by Peshmerga minister Shoresh Ismail. His visit includes a visit to Italian troops stationed in the Kurdistan Region as part of a US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), military advisors, and the Italian consulate in Erbil, according to the Peshmerga ministry.
He is also holding meetings with senior Kurdistan Region officials and was previously in Baghdad where he met his Iraqi counterpart Thabet al-Abbasi.
During the meeting, President Barzani thanked Italy for its support in the fight against ISIS, and expressed Erbil’s desire to further strengthen ties with Rome. Crosetto also praised the role of the Kurdish Peshmerga in the anti-ISIS fight and emphasized the Kurdistan Region’s vital role in the Middle East.
I’m pleased to welcome my friend, Italian Defense Minister @GuidoCrosetto, back to Erbil.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) December 22, 2024
The Kurdistan Region remains committed to further deepening ties with Italy and enhancing peace and stability throughout the region.
I reiterated my gratitude to the people and… pic.twitter.com/ptHYavqhSQ
Crosetto’s visit to Iraq coincides with recent developments in neighboring Syria, where rebel groups led by the Islamist Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8 in a blistering offensive.
Italy is a member of the global anti-ISIS coalition, formed in 2014 when the jihadists seized swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, and is actively engaged in supporting and training Iraqi security forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga.
During an April interview with Rudaw, former Italian envoy to Iraq Maurizio Greganti said that Rome enjoys “excellent” relations with Erbil and that Italians and Kurds are very close.
He also said that the Italian embassy is actively trying to bring more investment into the Kurdistan Region.
Earlier this month, President Barzani met with Italian Ambassador to Iraq Niccolo Fontana, reiterating Erbil’s desire to strengthen ties with Rome.
