New US Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio Met PM Masrour Barzani in 2016
Rubio is widely regarded as a close friend of the Kurdish people. In May 2016, he visited the Kurdistan Region and met with Masrour Barzani, who was then serving as the Security Council Advisor and is now the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region.
Nov. 14, 2024
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Senator Marco Rubio for the position of US Secretary of State. Rubio, a Florida native, is set to become the first Latino to hold this top diplomatic position in the United States.
Rubio is widely regarded as a close friend of the Kurdish people. In May 2016, he visited the Kurdistan Region and met with Masrour Barzani, who was then serving as the Security Council Advisor and is now the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region.
In a 2016 social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Masrour Barzani described their meeting as "a good discussion," noting that they addressed the future of Kurdistan Region-US relations, the fight against ISIS, and the liberation of Mosul.
Good dialogue w/ Senator @marcorubio today regarding future of U.S.-Kurdistan ties, war on #ISIL & Mosul operation. pic.twitter.com/JtmDY7GsyY
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) May 4, 2016
The Republican Senator has been a staunch supporter of the Peshmerga forces throughout the fight against ISIS, consistently urging the then-US administration to provide arms to the Kurdish forces.
Sen. Rubio has repeatedly emphasized for a strategy to support the Kurds.
Read More: US Senator: Kurds are good allies, should be ‘represented fairly’ in new Iraq government
Additionally, according to major U.S. media outlets including The Washington Post, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, Trump has asked Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Florida), a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer and member of the Congressional Kurdish Caucus, to serve as National Security Advisor.
Read More: Mike Waltz, Good Friend of the Kurds, Named as Trump’s National Security Advisor
Both nominees have demonstrated strong support for Kurdish interests. Rubio has been a persistent advocate for arming the Peshmerga forces during the fight against ISIS, repeatedly emphasizing the need for a strategic approach to supporting the Kurds.
Marco Rubio's nomination comes at a crucial time for Kurdish-American relations. His previous engagement with Kurdish leadership and consistent support for the Kurdistan Region, particularly during the fight against ISIS, suggests potential continuity in US support for the Region.
The Senator's understanding of Kurdish issues and his previous calls for strategic support could influence US policy in the region. His appointment would mark a historic moment as the first Latino Secretary of State, potentially bringing a fresh perspective to US foreign policy in the Middle East.