'Our Best Partners,' U.S. General Urges Deeper U.S. Role in Kurdistan
“It’s a bright future if we work together… and the deeper the economic stakes are between Kurdistan and the United States, the more likely we are to achieve real effect in the Middle East," Brigadier General Audino stated.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Retired U.S. Brigadier General Ernest C. Audino has voiced resounding support for deeper strategic, military, and economic ties between the United States and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing Kurdish autonomy, mutual values, and regional security during an interview with Kurdistan24 on Friday.
Quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio, General Audino underscored a key policy shift: "Iraqi officials have expressed interest in a closer relationship with the United States, and we've explained to them that the core of that is respect for the companies operating in Iraq and respect for Kurdish autonomy.”
“This is powerful,” Audino affirmed, citing the Trump administration’s alignment with Kurdish aspirations. “The Kurds are our best partners in that region… It’s in America’s interest to maintain that relationship.”
Recalling his own experience in Kurdistan, Audino noted shared values of “free trade, peace, good neighborliness, and prosperity.” He said the Kurdistan Region exemplifies what the U.S. had once hoped for the rest of Iraq. “Today, the Kurds have the shining example inside Iraq… Kurdistan has really achieved in Iraq what we had hoped for the rest of Iraq.”
He called for a more robust American military presence in Kurdistan, modeling it on post-WWII Europe. “We brought American families there too… We could do the same thing in Kurdistan. It would be wonderful.”
Audino warned of the threat posed by a nuclear-armed Tehran. “A non-nuclear Tehran is in the vital interest of not just the United States, but anybody in the region… Nations have four elements of power – military, diplomatic, informational, and economic – and Trump just spent a week negotiating economic cooperation among Sunni countries as a counterbalance to Iran.”
He dismissed the idea of appeasing Tehran through weak paper agreements. “I don't presume for a minute that any agreement with Tehran… is worth the paper it's written on. But President Trump will exhaust every peaceful option before considering a military one.”
Reiterating Rubio’s statement, Audino emphasized his satisfaction with the administration’s explicit support for Kurdish autonomy. “It’s a bright future if we work together… and the deeper the economic stakes are between Kurdistan and the United States, the more likely we are to achieve real effect in the Middle East.”
On energy cooperation, he stressed that the Kurdistan Region’s reserves are vital to European energy diversification. “The Kurds sit atop one-third of all energy reserves in Iraq… geographically well situated to help the Europeans diversify away from Russian energy.”
He noted that while Europe is cutting down Russian energy imports, Kurdish and American efforts are needed to fill the gap: “Stronger spines in Europe, in Brussels, begin with weaker or lighter wallets in Moscow.”
General Audino appealed to Kurds for patience as the U.S. navigates its domestic political cycles. “Be patient with us… Americans know much more about our Kurdish partners today than they ever did before, and they're learning more every day.”
He described growing American interest in Kurdistan, sharing that he plans to bring a friend to visit: “There’s no substitute for that kind of thing.”
Reflecting on Kurdistan’s de facto autonomy since 1991, he acknowledged the challenges posed by Tehran’s increasing influence via Baghdad: “Tehran… is trying to choke the oxygen out of the Kurdistan Region. It's throttled its exports and threatened the region with missile strikes. That’s unacceptable.”
Audino concluded with a resounding endorsement: “We’ve got good partners in the Kurds, and we need to maintain and nurture that relationship.”
