Nechirvan Barzani, Admiral Cooper Highlight US Support for Peshmerga and Counterterrorism

Peregraf 

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani today received Admiral Charles Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), accompanied by a high-level military delegation. The discussions emphasized US military assistance, training programs, and support for the ongoing reform process at the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, alongside broader security cooperation.

According to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the two sides also reviewed the continuing threat of ISIS, the stability of Iraq and Syria, and US assistance to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in strengthening military and security capabilities. Both parties exchanged views on regional stability and reaffirmed the importance of the US–Kurdistan partnership.

President Barzani expressed his gratitude for Washington’s role in defeating ISIS and reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the United States. Admiral Cooper, for his part, thanked the Kurdistan Region for its contributions against terrorism and reiterated the US commitment to support Iraq and the Kurdistan Region as allies, stressing the importance of strengthening joint cooperation against terrorism and regional threats.

The meeting, attended by US Consul General in Erbil Windy Green, also addressed Erbil–Baghdad relations, the situation in Syria, and broader Middle East developments.