PM Barzani Congratulates Marco Rubio on Appointment as U.S. Secretary of State

Jan. 21, 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani congratulated former senator Marco Rubio on Tuesday for his appointment as the new U.S. Secretary of State in President Donald Trump's administration.

“I look forward to working together to promote peace and stability in the region and advance the Kurdistan-US strategic partnership,” Prime Minister Barzani posted on his personal X account. 

Congratulations @marcorubio on your appointment as the new U.S. Secretary of State. I look forward to working together to promote peace and stability in the region and advance the Kurdistan-US strategic partnership -mb.

— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) January 21, 2025

Trump's nominee, Rubio, received unanimous approval from his former Senate colleagues on Monday. The Senate vote occurred shortly after Trump's inauguration earlier that day.

Read More: US Senate Unanimously Approves Rubio as Secretary of State 

Rubio is widely regarded as a close friend of the Kurdish people. In May 2016, he visited the Kurdistan Region and met with Prime Minister Barzani, who was then serving as the region’s Security Council Advisor. 

Read More: New US Secretary of State Nominee Marco Rubio Met PM Masrour Barzani in 2016

Rubio 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. He 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