'Kurdistan Has a Lot of Support from the Trump Administration,' Campos Tells Kurdistan24
"Kurdistan can and should play a key role," he said. "The export of oil is critical for Kurdistan... and the gas availability could play a significant role for Europe."
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Vincent Campos, Senior Contributor at the Washington Kurdish Institute (WKI) and former US diplomat to Iraq, has welcomed Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s visit to Washington, describing the outcome as encouraging and potentially transformative for the Kurdistan Region’s relationship with the United States. In an interview with Kurdistan24 on Friday, Campos emphasized the urgent need for stronger U.S. involvement in Baghdad-Erbil relations and called on the Trump administration to maintain momentum through sustained engagement in energy, security, and diplomacy.
"I was very excited to see Prime Minister Barzani's trip to Washington, and I'm very encouraged with the results," Campos stated. He noted that while he had initial reservations about the Trump administration’s commitment to Kurdistan, the newly signed energy deals and supportive rhetoric indicated a continued strategic partnership.
Campos hailed the energy agreements—worth over $100 billion—as a significant step, but one that must be followed with action. "Much more needs to be done," he said, stressing the economic viability of Kurdistan is deeply impacted by its relationship with Baghdad. He urged progress on oil and gas infrastructure, highlighting the importance of reviving the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and advancing Kurdistan’s role in gas exports to Europe and the region.
"Kurdistan can and should play a key role," he said. "The export of oil is critical for Kurdistan... and the gas availability could play a significant role for Europe."
On President Donald Trump’s engagement with the Kurdistan Region, Campos was candid: "Trump cares about two things—money and energy. Barzani handled this trip quite well... he did offer something Trump is very, very passionate about." However, Campos also warned that unresolved issues with Iran, Baghdad, and constitutional compliance remain pressing and will demand U.S. involvement.
Critiquing America’s recent passivity, Campos insisted, "The U.S. role really needs to increase... especially with Baghdad. The U.S. needs to insist that progress is being made in a number of areas."
He underscored the disruptive influence of Iran-aligned militias and called for a U.S. pushback against PMF-linked elements creating security problems in Kurdistan. "Federal Iraq depends on success in Kurdistan... everything Baghdad does to confront Kurdistan’s economic viability hurts all of Iraq."
Campos praised the Peshmerga as one of the few reliable U.S. partners in the region: "They have proven themselves over and over again as a fully competent, reliable partner for security. The U.S. must do everything possible to support the Peshmerga."
In closing, Campos underscored the critical economic and geopolitical potential of the Kurdistan Region. "The KRG is on track to become a very powerful economic engine driving the area... a source of natural gas for the rest of Iraq."
He concluded with a call for long-term strategic vision: "There is no reason why Kurdistan and the KRG cannot advance and improve that situation... to be in a better position economically, in security, and in overall stability."
