In the meeting, “the relations between the Netherlands, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region were discussed, especially in the fields of defense and military training,” said a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Both sides also stressed the need to continue cooperation between the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga forces, and the Dutch forces in the fight against terrorism.
I’m delighted to receive the Dutch @DefensieMin Ruben Brekelmans in Erbil.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) December 23, 2024
The Kurdistan Region values its strong relations with the Netherlands, and I reiterate my appreciation for the Kingdom's contribution in the war against terror.
I look forward to continuing our… pic.twitter.com/j9aIKu3zGB
The meeting also discussed the Kurdistan Region’s vital role in “strengthening stability and the efforts to reform and unite the Peshmerga within the framework of the Peshmerga ministry,” according to the statement.
For his part, Brekelmans said that The Hague's relationship with Kurds and the Kurdistan Region "is close and goes back a long way."
"With the tensions in Syria, our support for the Kurdish forces remains of great importance. Our relationship is close and goes back a long way," Brekelmans said on X.
Brekelmans arrived in Erbil on Monday and was received by Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail. He is in the Kurdistan Region for talks with senior officials on the continued assistance of Amsterdam to the Peshmerga, with the Netherlands having an active role in the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).
Before landing in Erbil, he was in Baghdad to visit NATO’s mission in Iraq, which advises Iraqi defense and security forces.
The Netherlands has been actively involved in the Kurdistan Region. As a member of the US-led coalition against ISIS, Amsterdam has helped to lead and implement a Peshmerga reform plan.
President Barzani thanked the Netherlands for its continued support in the anti-ISIS fight during the meeting, and Brekelmans reiterated Amsterdam’s support for Erbil.
It is also collaborating with the Kurdistan Region’s private sector to prepare young people for the job market through education, highlighting projects such as “Co-create Your City.”
Western countries have encouraged initiatives to professionalize, train, and most importantly unify the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces. Despite their recent success and cooperation with the anti-ISIS coalition, many units are politically aligned.
Brekelmans is the second European defense minister to visit the Kurdistan Region in two days, after Italy’s Guido Crosetto, who also met President Barzani and senior officials to discuss the anti-ISIS fight.
Updated at 9:22 pm
