KRG Interior Minister to Address UK Border Security Summit in London
Invited by the UK Home Office, Rebar Ahmed leads a KRG delegation to the two-day summit, which is expected to tackle pressing global issues related to migration, border control, and international security cooperation.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — In a diplomatic move reflecting the Kurdistan Region’s growing role in international security dialogues, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed is currently in the United Kingdom to attend and address the Organized Immigration Crime Summit (Border Security Summit) in London. The event, which officially opened on Monday, brings together interior and justice ministers, along with senior border security officials from around the world.
Invited by the UK Home Office, Rebar Ahmed leads a KRG delegation to the two-day summit, which is expected to tackle pressing global issues related to migration, border control, and international security cooperation. The summit's opening day featured remarks by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and is being chaired by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who also met Minister Ahmed during the official welcome ceremony held on Sunday evening.
Minister Ahmed has been selected as one of the key panelists for the summit’s opening session, during which he will deliver a speech highlighting the Kurdistan Region’s pivotal role in managing regional security, combating cross-border threats, and supporting international efforts to contain irregular migration.
According to official sources, Sunday’s welcoming reception included bilateral meetings between Minister Ahmed and several of his counterparts from across the globe. Notably, he held discussions with Iraq’s Federal Minister of Interior, Germany’s Minister of the Interior, the Netherlands’ Minister for Migration, Sweden’s Minister of Justice, China’s Minister for Migration, and Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior.
These meetings also brought together top-ranking officials in charge of border protection and security from various countries, reflecting the summit’s broad international scope.
The KRG’s participation in the London Summit not only highlights the region’s established security credentials but also reflects its increasing diplomatic engagement on global platforms. The Kurdistan Region has long served as a frontline actor in the fight against terrorism, particularly in its coordination with coalition forces against ISIS, and continues to be a critical stakeholder in ensuring the stability of Iraq and its surrounding regions.
Minister Ahmed’s attendance at such a globally significant forum underscores the Kurdistan Region’s ongoing efforts to build partnerships with European and international institutions on matters ranging from border management to migration policy. It also marks an opportunity for the KRG to share its experience in managing complex security challenges, including those stemming from regional instability and humanitarian displacement.
As global security concerns intensify—from the aftermath of conflicts in the Middle East to increasing migration flows and the technological transformation of border controls—the participation of emerging and stable actors like the Kurdistan Region is increasingly recognized as essential.
With the summit continuing into its second day, further bilateral meetings and panel discussions are expected to deepen collaboration among attendees and reinforce the importance of shared security frameworks in an era of growing transnational challenges.
