Politics

U.S. Ambassador Visits Erbil, Meets Senior KRG Officials

Romanowski visited Erbil where she met with senior KRG officials, as her term comes to an end.

Kurdistan Region President, Nechirvan Barzani (R), U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski (L). (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Kurdistan Region President, Nechirvan Barzani (R), U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski (L). (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Kurdistan KRP Nechirvan Barzani U.S. ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski US-KRG Relations Peshmerga Reform KR new government ISIS Threat

Dec 1, 2024

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) On Saturday, the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Alina Romanowski, visited Erbil where she met with senior officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), as her term as ambassador is coming to an end. 

Romanowski saw KRG President Nechirvan Barzani and then posted to X her account of the  “productive meeting.” 

In posting that note, Romanowski, essentially, laid out what are the three most important issues for the U.S. government in its relations with the KRG: 1) a quick formation of the next government; 2) Peshmerga reform; and 3) ensuring that ISIS does not come back and that it remains defeated.

According to Romanowski’s post, in her meeting with Barzani, they discussed “the importance of swiftly forming the KRG to maintain Iraq’s stability, sovereignty, and security,” following the Oct. 20 parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region. 

Read More: Official final voting results, political parties' lists, seats, total votes

“We also discussed adopting Peshmerga reform efforts and ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS,” she added in her post.

Romanowski also saw the KRG Interior Minister, as she also explained on  X.

“Met with KRG Interior Minister @RayberAhmed to reaffirm U.S. commitment to support KRG efforts to maintain security and stability within region and combat persistent threats to both the United States and Iraq,” her post said.

 

Romanowski’s career has focused on the Middle East. In 2022, President Joe Biden appointed her as ambassador to Iraq. And before that, she served as U.S. ambassador to Kuwait, appointed to that position by President Donald Trump.