Iraqi Prime Minister to visit Kurdistan Region for key talks with Kurdish leadership

The meeting is set to address pressing issues about budget payments, the resumption of oil exports, and security coordination.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Photo: Kurdistan24)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. (Photo: Kurdistan24)

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani is scheduled to visit the Kurdistan Region next week for high-stakes discussions with Kurdish leaders, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, confirmed on Saturday.

The meeting is set to address pressing issues about budget payments, the resumption of oil exports, and security coordination. These discussions come at a critical time, given the upcoming Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections, escalating regional tensions, and the shifting dynamics of U.S. foreign policy in the region.

Prime Minister Masrour Barzani is expected to emphasize the need for a permanent solution to the frequent delays in budgetary payments from Baghdad, an ongoing concern impacting both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and its citizens. Barzani will renew his call for Baghdad to ensure timely payments, aiming to support economic stability in both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole.

“By establishing a reliable budget system, both governments can direct their efforts toward shared economic priorities,” Ahmad stated, highlighting the Kurdistan Region’s focus on energy cooperation, strengthening regional trade ties, and implementing state-backed credit initiatives to boost private sector growth across the country.

The visit underscores the continuing efforts to bridge longstanding challenges between Erbil and Baghdad, with leaders expected to explore mutually beneficial economic and security partnerships in the face of complex regional dynamics.