Biden Administration Calls for ‘Timely’ Formation of new Kurdish Government; Resolution of Baghdad Financial Disputes
Miller called for the ‘timely’ formation of a new Kurdish government, as well as the resolution of financial disputes between Baghdad and Erbil and the resumption of Kurdish oil exports.

Jan. 16, 2025
WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) Addressing reporters on Wednesday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller called for the quick formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) following the parliamentary elections last October.
He also called for Baghdad and Erbil to resolve their disagreements over the budget and resumption of Kurdish oil production.
Miller’s statements came in response to a question about the visit of Victoria Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran, to Erbil, where she held meetings with the senior Kurdish leadership earlier that day.
Those communications are pretty much the last that the KRG will receive from the Biden administration, as Donald Trump will assume the presidency on Monday.
Indeed, the Iraqi paper, Shafaq News, reported that as Taylor visited Baghdad, before travelling to Erbil, she carried a message from Trump. That message reflected Trump’s strong position against Iran.
Taylor’s message, according to Shafaq News, involved the need for Iraq to boost its independence from Iran and control the proliferation of arms in the hands of non-state actors, above all the pro-Iran militias.
According to Shafaq News, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani welcomed Trump’s position, although he was out of the country—on a major trip to Great Britain—when Taylor arrived in Baghdad, and, so, she met with others.
Trump Administration Will Be Friendlier to Erbil than Biden Administration
The Biden administration has been friendly toward Erbil. However, it was long constrained by its effort to improve relations with Iran and reverse Trump’s abdication of the Obama era nuclear deal with Iran, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA.)
That effort ended in failure, but two years were lost, and the Biden administration may well have difficulty in recognizing that they were wrong from the start. They had seriously erred in their view that Iran wanted warmer ties with the U.S.
Read More: Joe Biden: Iranian nuclear deal is “dead”
Thus, the Trump administration is likely to be friendlier to the Kurds than its predecessor, and that has been reflected in personnel appointments. They include Rep. Mike Waltz (R, Florida.)
Waltz was a retired Army Green Beret, when in 2018, he ran, and won, a seat in 2018 in the U.S. Congress, where he was an active member of the Kurdish Caucus.
Trump has named Waltz as his National Security Adviser, and Waltz will assume office, along with Trump, on Monday.
Read More: Mike Waltz, Good Friend of the Kurds, Named as Trump’s National Security Advisor
Indeed, Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani spoke by telephone with Waltz last month. Their discussion underscored the “strong partnership” between the U.S. and the Kurdistan Region.
Similarly, Trump has nominated Sen Marco Rubio (R, Florida) as his Secretary of State. Rubio, too, is very friendly toward the Kurds.
Read More: US Senator: Kurds are good allies, should be ‘represented fairly’ in new Iraq government
But Rubio’s appointment as Secretary of State requires approval by the U.S. Senate. Yet he is not a controversial figure, and, almost certainly, he will win the approval of his former Senate colleagues.
Miller’s Statement
On Wednesday, Victoria Taylor visited Erbil, where she met the senior Kurdish leadership.
The read-outs from Kurdish officials suggested they had a warm and friendly exchange with her.
“DAS Taylor emphasized the importance of the Kurdistan Region's position and role as a partner of her country,” the Prime Minister’s office said, while she backed the speedy resumption of Kurdish oil exports, and the need for Baghdad to fulfill its financial obligations to the Kurdistan Region.
Read More: PM Masrour Barzani Engages in Strategic Dialogue with US DAS Victoria Taylor
The President of the Kurdish Region issued a similar statement.
Read More: Kurdistan Region President meets with top US delegation to strengthen relations
And she also met with the Kurdistan Region’s elder statesman, President Masoud Barzani.
Read More: US DAS Victoria Taylor Praises President Masoud Barzani’s Efforts to Unite Kurds in Syria
Asked about Taylor’s meetings in Erbil, Miller stressed two points. One involved the formation of a new Kurdish government.
“We encourage political parties to support an inclusive and timely KRG formation,” he said. “The seating of a new government will allow the KRG and the IPK [Iraqi Kurdish Parliament] to advance human rights, promote economic development” and “enhance the IKR's [Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s] resiliency as part of a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq.”
“We have engaged the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to reach a durable budget agreement that would facilitate sustained oil production in the Iraqi Kurdistan region,” Miller continued, adding, “We have seen the review of the budget amendment this week and urge its speedy adoption.”