PM Barzani’s Washington Visit Strikes Strategic Chord with Trump Administration, Says U.S. Analyst

By Ahora Qadi

Erbil (Kurdistan24) – In an exclusive interview with Kurdistan24, David Patel, Research Fellow at the Middle East Initiative, praised Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s ongoing visit to Washington as “smartly crafted,” noting that the Kurdish leader is focusing on precisely the issues that resonate with the Trump administration: energy investment and religious freedom.

“The Kurdistan Regional Government and the US administration share a lot of the same goals,” Patel said. “But I noticed that on this trip, Prime Minister Barzani seems to be emphasizing wisely, in my opinion, two aspects of those shared interests. Emphasizing the shared opportunities to develop energy and power of the Kurdistan Region. The press release that the KRG put out mentions that Prime Minister Barzani will emphasize opportunities for American companies in the sector, and that's what the Trump administration cares about.”

“That's what they wanna hear: opportunities for deals”

According to Patel, the Prime Minister’s messaging reflects a keen understanding of U.S. political priorities under President Donald Trump. “That’s what they wanna hear, opportunities for deals. And also, an emphasis on religious freedom. The KRG as a refuge for minorities in the region, especially for Christians. So, they share a lot of interest, but it sounds like Barzani is hitting the right note to speak to what the Trump administration cares about most.”

While shared interests such as regional stability remain central to the U.S.-KRG relationship, Patel cautioned that Kurdistan’s strategic weight may diminish over time if regional stabilization continues.

“They share a lot of interests with the United States government in the region, such as stability in Syria, Iraq, and Southeastern Turkey,” Patel explained. “But from the perspective of the US administration, all of those things that Kurdistan is central towards, they're stabilizing more than they have in recent years.”

“Kurdistan’s leverage is at its highest — now is the moment”

Patel described the current window as a critical moment for Erbil to capitalize on its influence, especially as U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations continue.

“Right now, KRG's leverage with the US and the ability to use the US to put pressure on Baghdad is at its peak,” he said. “If a deal with Iran is struck, the Kurdistan Region may find that it still shares interests with the United States, but its strategic value has declined.”

The analyst also highlighted a recent milestone in U.S.-Kurdistan business ties. “There’s already some new agreements between US companies and companies in Kurdistan from what I understand. Last month, General Electric and a company in Sulaymaniyah, signed a deal to develop the Bazian power plant.”

Patel added that both sides view this as the beginning of deeper economic ties. “I think there's opportunities there,” he said, before underscoring a governance challenge.

“Decision-making is centralized in the White House — State Department has less weight”

“This U.S. administration under Trump is more centralized in the White House,” he said. “The Kurds have a great track record in history of reaching out to the State Department, to members of Congress, to interests in Washington, but it looks like those actors aren't as important in the White House in decision-making as they were under past administrations.”

Given that dynamic, Patel encouraged Kurdish officials to strengthen ties with Gulf states. “President Trump discussed the Kurdistan Region with Gulf actors. I think that's an important strategy for the Kurds going forward — strengthening its ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar. Those are places that it seems Trump listens to.”

“Deals, first and foremost” — Restarting oil exports key to US engagement

“For the Trump administration, I think it's deals, first and foremost,” Patel emphasized. “And there's a big opportunity now to restart oil exports from the Kurdistan Region, which have been stalled for two years. That requires a deal between Erbil and Baghdad.”

He concluded that the most effective strategy would be to link American business interests to political progress. “Linking business opportunities for American companies to help develop that energy and power infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region and tying that to restarting oil exports — I think that's really what's gonna get the U.S. and the Trump administration more directly involved.”

Despite a stabilizing regional environment, Patel reiterated that Kurdistan’s role as “an island of stability” remains crucial, even if relatively less so compared to previous years. “Now is the moment,” he stressed again. “Until there’s a deal between the US and Iran, Kurdistan’s leverage is at its highest.”

With Iraqi elections looming and regional dynamics shifting rapidly, Patel noted, “The U.S. is still watching to see how relations between Erbil and Baghdad develop — and Kurdistan still matters.”