KRG Representative to Attend Trump Inauguration

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S., and his vice-president-deisgnate, J.D. Vance, will be sworn in as well.

Treefa Aziz, the KRG Representative to the United States,. (Photo: KRG)
Treefa Aziz, the KRG Representative to the United States,. (Photo: KRG)

Jan. 17, 2025

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Representation in Washington DC announced on Thursday that the KRG Representative in the U.S. capital, Treefa Aziz, has been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony for President—elect Donald Trump.

Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the U.S., and his vice-president-deisgnate, J.D. Vance, will be sworn in as well.

The inaugural ceremony will be held at noon on Monday on the west steps of the Capitol building, where the U.S. Congress holds its meetings. John Roberts, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, will administer the oaths of office to Trump and Vance.

The invitation to the Kurdish Representative would seem to reflect the friendlier attitude of the incomingTrump administration toward the KRG, as compared to the outgoing Biden administration.

The invitation was also an occasion for the KRG Representation in Washington to affirm its intent to develop meaningful ties with the incoming team.

“The KRG looks forward to working closely with the new administration to further strengthen the enduring partnership between the United States and the Kurdistan Region,” its statement said. 

“Together we can continue to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond,” the statement affirmed.

Background

It was not that the Biden administration was unfriendly toward Erbil, but when it took office in 2021, it held a very mistaken view of Iran. It believed that Tehran would welcome a resumption of the Iranian nuclear deal, which had been concluded under Barack Obama and which was formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA.)

In his previous term, Trump had left the JCPOA, which meant that the U.S. re-imposed sanctions on Iran. But as it turned out, despite the overtures of the Biden administration, Iran preferred to maintain its hostility toward the U.S. In the process, two years were lost, during which the Biden administration consistently reached out to Iran, before recognizing that Iran was not interested in renewing the accord. 

Read More:  Joe Biden: Iranian nuclear deal is 'dead'

It also meant a reluctance on the part of the Biden administration to challenge Iran’s influence in Iraq. But that is changing for the next administration for two reasons. 

One reason is the perspective of Trump and his top advisors. They are much more hostile to Iran and less reluctant to take action against it.

The second reason is that Iran is much weaker as a result of the conflict with Israel that Tehran and its proxies have waged since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its brutal cross-border assault into Israel.

The latest—and perhaps, most severe—blow to Iran’s regional influence has been the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria at the hands of the Turkish-backed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS.)

Tehran’s loss of its key ally has made it much easier to exert pressure against Iran. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Taylor just visited Baghdad and Erbil.

According to the Iraqi media outlet, Shafaq News, in Baghdad, she carried a message from the incoming administration, as she pressed the Iraqi government to better control the pro-Iranian militias and resist Tehran’s interference in Iraq’s internal affairs. 

According to Shafaq News, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and his top advisors welcomed Taylor’s message.

New Administration’s Friendliness Toward the KRG

Trump has named Rep. Michael Waltz (R. Florida), a retired Green Beret, as his National Security Adviser. Waltz is leaving his Congressional seat, but while in Congress, he was a very active member of the Kurdish caucus.

Last month, Masrour Barzani, the KRG Prime Minister, called Waltz to congratulate him on the appointment to his new position.

Read More: PM Masrour Barzani Engages in Strategic Dialogue with US DAS Victoria Taylor

Similarly, Trump’s nominee for the position of Secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio (R, Florida), has also demonstrated a long-term friendliness toward the Kurds.

Read More: ‘US Must Continue Supporting SDF in the Fight Against ISIS’ Marco Rubio

Because Waltz will be working in the White House, his appointment does not need Senate confirmation. And Rubio is not a controversial figure, so he is expected to win Senate confirmation easily.

Thus, the affirmation by the KRG Representation in Washington of its intent to work closely with the new administration to strengthen its partnership with the U.S. and act together to promote regional peace and stability is likely to fall on very fertile ground.