“I appreciate tonight’s call from Secretary Rubio, during which we discussed developments in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region,” President Barzani said on X.
During the phone call, Barzani asserted the Kurdistan Region’s “shared commitment to peace, stability, and the strong partnership between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the United States, and conveyed our deep gratitude for America’s steadfast support over the years,” he added.
Rubio, on the other hand, thanked President Barzani “for his role and efforts in resolving issues between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] through understanding and constructive dialogue,” according to a Kurdistan Region Presidency statement.
The US earlier in May significantly upped its investment in the Kurdistan Region, with two American energy firms – HKN Energy and WesternZagros – signing deals with the KRG valued at a combined $110 billion over their lifespans.
The deals - while rejected as illegal by Baghdad - were warmly welcomed by Erbil and Washington as a sign of deepening ties between the two sides.
Last week, Rubio labeled Kurdish autonomy in Iraq as the “linchpin” of America’s approach to the country, stressing that Washington values the economic success of the Kurdistan Region.
“The linchpin of our approach to Iraq is that autonomy that the Kurdish population has in that part of the country, and part of that is allowing them the economic lifeline that allows them to prosper and succeed,” he said.
During the phone call with President Barzani, Rubio labeled Washington’s support to Erbil as a “fundamental pillar of America’s strategic relationship with Iraq,” according to the Kurdistan Region Presidency.
Washington and Erbil enjoy strong relations. The US has been one of the primary backers of the Kurdistan Region since it secured autonomy in the 1990s and has played an instrumental role in the development of the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, especially as the head of a global coalition against ISIS. It is also the primary backer of Peshmerga reforms.
The US is also set to soon open a new consulate general in Erbil that will be the world’s largest.
