SULAIMANI (ESTA) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed U.S. readiness on Saturday to deepen partnership with the Kurdistan Region, according to a statement.
Blinken sent a message to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani following the third round of the U.S.-Iraq strategic dialogue, the KRG said in a statement.
“In the message, Secretary Blinken expressed his appreciation for Prime Minister Barzani’s support and made clear his readiness to deepen the partnership between the United States and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” it stated.
Iraq and the United States held the third round of their strategic dialogue on Wednesday, in which the U.S. agreed to remove remaining combat forces deployed to fight Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Iraq.
The KRG premier reaffirmed on Thursday the Kurdish government’s support for the U.S.-Iraq talks.
“I welcome the third round of the US-Iraq Strategic Dialogue. The KRG reaffirms its support for the talks,” Barzani said in a tweet. “They are a pathway to greater engagement and cooperation – in reform, security, trade, investment, the environment, and clean energy.”
The talks, which began in June under the Trump administration, was the first under U.S. President Joe Biden, who assumed office in January.
“The parties confirmed that the mission of U.S. and Coalition forces has now transitioned to one focused on training and advisory tasks, thereby allowing for the redeployment of any remaining combat forces from Iraq, with the timing to be established in upcoming technical talks,” said a joint statement after the virtual strategic dialogue.
“The transition of U.S. and other international forces away from combat operations to training, equipping and assisting the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces] reflects the success of their strategic partnership and ensures support to the ISF’s continued efforts to ensure ISIS can never again threaten Iraq’s stability,” the joint statement said.
According to the Pentagon, the number of U.S. troops in Iraq has dropped to about 2,500 over the past months.
Iraq also pledged to protect bases with U.S.-led forces, who Washing ton said were present “solely in support of Iraq’s effort in the fight against ISIS”.
Iraqi bases hosting U.S.-led Coalition troops have been attacked with rockets in the past months. The United States blames Shia paramilitary groups linked to Iran.
