KRG PM Barzani, U.S. Senator Rosen Discuss Strengthening U.S.-Kurdistan Relations
"We discussed the need to respect and uphold the federal status of the Kurdistan Region, along with the constitutional rights and financial entitlements of the Kurdistani people," PM Barzani stated.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday welcomed U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen to Erbil, where the two leaders held high-level discussions on deepening bilateral relations, enhancing security and economic cooperation, and addressing regional developments.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Prime Minister Barzani expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, underscoring the importance of building on the longstanding partnership between the Kurdistan Region and the United States.
“We emphasized the importance of enhancing security and economic ties and cooperation,” Barzani stated, also highlighting the significance of the recent visit by a Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation to Washington, D.C., where they held “constructive meetings with members of Congress and the U.S. administration.”
"We discussed the need to respect and uphold the federal status of the Kurdistan Region, along with the constitutional rights and financial entitlements of the Kurdistani people," PM Barzani stated.
Barzani and Senator Rosen also exchanged views on regional developments, with particular focus on neighboring Syria, where ongoing instability continues to have direct implications for the Kurdistan Region’s security and humanitarian landscape.
A Strained Federal Relationship
The Prime Minister’s remarks come at a time of heightened tension between Erbil and Baghdad, with the federal government increasingly accused of undermining the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional autonomy. Despite constitutional guarantees enshrined in the 2005 Iraqi constitution—specifically Articles 117 and 121, which recognize the Kurdistan Region as a federal entity with administrative and legislative authority—the Iraqi government has, in practice, withheld budgetary allocations and salaries from the Region’s public servants, including Peshmerga forces.
This financial pressure has been widely seen by Kurdish officials and observers as an attempt by Baghdad to erode the KRG’s independence and decision-making capacity. Prime Minister Barzani has consistently condemned these moves, calling for an end to the use of public finances as political leverage against the people of Kurdistan.
The visit by Senator Rosen is viewed in Erbil as a sign of continued U.S. support for the Kurdistan Region, especially in areas of joint counterterrorism efforts, energy cooperation, and democratic governance. The KRG has long maintained that its relationship with Washington is strategic and vital to regional stability.
As discussions with international partners continue, Kurdish leaders remain focused on safeguarding their constitutional rights and securing long-term political and economic stability for the Region’s diverse communities.
