Iraq's Kurdistan Region says US military support not ending despite expiry of agreement

Iraq’s Kurdistan Region has clarified that its long-standing military cooperation with the United States will not end even though a key security agreement expires at the end of September. Kurdish officials emphasized that while the 2016 agreement supporting the reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces is set to terminate on September 30, the strategic partnership between Erbil and Washington remains intact. This comes amid reports suggesting U.S. assistance to the region might be suspended following the agreement’s expiration. The agreement, initially signed in 2016, aimed to strengthen the Peshmerga forces, Kurdistan’s semi-autonomous military, as they played a crucial role in the fight against ISIS. In September 2022, an updated agreement extended U.S. support for another four years, focusing on counter-terrorism operations, professionalization of Kurdish forces, and logistical aid. According to Noreldin Waisy, spokesperson for KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, the expiration of the current agreement does not signal the end of U.S.-Kurdish collaboration. He noted that the Peshmerga remain a vital partner in combating terrorism and that there is still a foundation for ongoing security cooperation. Waisy added that discussions on a new framework for continued U.S. support and cooperation are anticipated in the future. The Kurdistan Region remains committed to deepening ties with Washington to enhance regional security and stability. Another Kurdish official echoed these sentiments, stating that the end of U.S. funding should not be viewed as a suspension of military assistance. Instead, cooperation is expected to persist through training, military advice, logistics, institutional reforms, and efforts to unify the Peshmerga forces, which are currently split between two major factions, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Despite years of attempts to unify the Peshmerga under a single command, the forces remain divided. However, the U.S. has historically supported efforts to consolidate their strength against external threats. The phased reduction of U.S. funding has been discussed for some time and is tied to the broader transition of the U.S.-led coalition mission in Iraq. Kurdish representatives have participated in discussions regarding the evolving U.S.-Iraqi security relationship, with one official noting that the move represents the planned conclusion of a specific funding mechanism rather than a suspension of American military assistance to the region. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi recently confirmed that the U.S.-led military coalition is preparing to withdraw its troops from the Kurdistan Region and transfer bases to Iraqi forces by September 30. This deadline was agreed upon in 2024 as part of a larger effort to shift the coalition’s mission from combat and advisory roles to bilateral security cooperation. The withdrawal marks the formal end of an international coalition that was established in 2014 to combat ISIS. Since the defeat of ISIS in 2017, Iraq has sought to transition toward advisory and intelligence-sharing frameworks conducted through direct bilateral agreements rather than a coalition structure. The Kurdistan Region continues to host several key coalition sites that have been instrumental in training, logistics, and air operations against ISIS remnants. Germany’s military mission to Iraq officially concluded last week, with its personnel leaving the Kurdistan Region as part of the coalition’s broader withdrawal from the country. As the U.S. and its allies prepare to exit Iraq, the focus shifts toward consolidating bilateral relationships and ensuring continued security cooperation with local forces such as the Peshmerga.