U.S. Senator: Militia Threat Must Be Squashed to Enable American Investment in Iraq
U.S. Senator links Iraq investment to militia dismantlement following PM Barzani's $110B energy deals, stresses need for security to boost American business in Kurdistan Region.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – American Senator James Lankford underscored the need to eliminate the threat of armed militias in Iraq as a prerequisite for expanding U.S. investment and securing and stable environment across the country, during a brief exchange with a Kurdistan24 correspondent at the White House following Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s official visit to Washington.
Responding to a question about his recent meeting with Prime Minister Barzani—during which the Kurdish leader signed a $110 billion investment agreement with two major American companies—Senator Lankford said the talks were productive and reaffirmed U.S. interest in fostering economic growth across Iraq.
“We had a great meeting. We want to see investment in Iraq and across the entire country of Iraq and want to be able to see people be unified there on it,” Lankford said. “And so for the Kurdish Regional Government or for what's happening in Baghdad across the entire country, we'd like to see greater investment there.”
However, Lankford warned that lingering security threats posed by armed groups continue to impede economic progress.
“One of the key factors of that is gonna be some of those militias that are still active in Iraq. We've gotta be able to see those squashed and so that American businesses feel safe to do business there,” he emphasized.
The senator’s remarks come on the heels of Prime Minister Barzani’s high-level meetings with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and reinforcing the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional rights within a federal Iraq.
During the Visit, PM Barzani, stressed that preserving the Kurdistan Region’s autonomy is essential for Iraq’s stability and federal integrity. His cabinet later echoed these sentiments, praising the U.S. stance and pledging to continue dialogue with Baghdad to resolve outstanding disputes, particularly around oil exports and revenue sharing.
In its weekly session chaired by PM Barzani, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers described the U.S. as a “long-standing partner” and welcomed the administration’s consistent support. Prime minister Barzani also updated ministers on sectoral discussions in Washington aimed at increasing investment and reinvigorating energy partnerships.
The KRG has frequently highlighted the destabilizing role of armed non-state actors and stressed that the disbandment of such groups is vital to enabling a fair and secure political and economic environment—an assessment that now finds resonance in Senator Lankford’s public remarks.
The Kurdish leader’s Washington visit marked a significant milestone in U.S.-KRG relations, both politically and economically. The newly announced multibillion-dollar deals and Washington’s vocal support for the Region’s constitutional status reinforce a mutual desire to ensure that Kurdistan remains a cornerstone of stability, economic growth, and democratic pluralism in Iraq.
U.S. Senator: Militia Threat Must Be Squashed to Enable American Investment in Iraq
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) June 5, 2025
U.S. @SenatorLankford links Iraq investment to militia dismantlement following PM Barzani's $110B energy deals, stresses need for security to boost American business in Kurdistan Region.
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Kurdistan24 corresponded in Washington contributed to this article.
