Italian Defense Minister visits Kurdistan Region to strengthen military cooperation

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Saturday for an official visit, continuing Italy's support for the region's security and stability.

Upon his arrival, Crosetto was greeted by Kurdistan Region officials, including Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail, Safeen Dizayee, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, and Fawzi Hariri, Chief of Staff at the Kurdistan Region Presidency.

During his visit, Minister Crosetto is scheduled to meet with senior Kurdistan Region officials on Sunday to discuss regional developments and military cooperation.

The Italian Defense Minister will also visit Italian military advisors, forces stationed in the region, and the Italian consulate, the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs announced.

This visit follows Crosetto's previous trip to the Kurdistan Region on May 2, 2023, where he met with Kurdistan Regional President Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. His itinerary then included meetings with Italian soldiers and advisors deployed there.

Italy remains a key member of the international coalition against ISIS, with military advisors actively engaged in training and equipping the Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army. This partnership underscores Italy's commitment to enhancing the security capabilities of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.