US Says It Will Maintain Strong Security and Economic Partnership With Erbil
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott says that the US has completed its military withdrawal and commended the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region for their growing and developing capabilities.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The United States has reassured the people of the Kurdistan Region that Washington remains committed to a strong and enduring security and economic partnership with both the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government following the completion of its military withdrawal from Iraq.
In an exclusive statement to Kurdistan24, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the United States had successfully completed the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq by September 30, in line with the timetable previously agreed with the Iraqi federal government.
Pigott said the withdrawal reflects the growing and developing capabilities of Iraq’s security forces and the Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region.
He described the completion of the withdrawal as opening “a new and important chapter” in bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States.
Regarding the future of Washington’s relations with Baghdad and Erbil, Pigott stressed that the United States remains committed to building a strong and robust security and economic partnership with both the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Pigott also reiterated US support for the Iraqi government and Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
“We support Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s efforts to consolidate and exercise Iraqi sovereignty, as Iraq under his leadership, and in full partnership with the United States, moves steadily toward a new stage and a new path,” Pigott said.
The comments come as the United States concludes its military withdrawal from Iraq while emphasizing that the end of the withdrawal does not mark the end of its broader relationship with Baghdad and Erbil.
With US forces withdrawn according to the agreed timetable, Washington says its relationship with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region will continue through security and economic partnership, while supporting Iraq’s efforts to strengthen and exercise its sovereignty.