US opens new Erbil consulate, calls Kurdistan Region ‘foundational pillar’ of Iraq ties

ERBIL – U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s ties with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region during the inauguration of the United States’ new consulate compound in Erbil, calling the facility “a testament to the value of the relationship” between the two sides.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rigas condemned the recent attack on the Khor Mor gas field in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, describing it as “an outrageous terrorist attack.”

Rigas praised the Kurdistan Region’s role as a partner to the United States, stating: “We are proud of the deep and longstanding partnership with the people of this region,” and thanked the Kurdistan Region for its “role as an effective, capable security partner and trusted voice in Iraq and throughout the region.”

The new compound in Erbil is the largest American consulate in the world, according to the Kurdistan Region’s Department of Media and Information. It is located on the main highway between Erbil and Shaqlawa and covers 206,000 square meters. The land was allocated by Erbil Municipality in 2013, and the foundation stone was laid in July 2018 with a budget of $795 million. Until now, the U.S. Consulate General operated from a smaller facility in the Ankawa area of Erbil.

Rigas described the Kurdistan Region as a “foundational pillar” in U.S.-Iraq relations, saying: “A strong, stable, and resilient Iraqi Kurdistan Region is a foundational pillar of the relationship the United States enjoys with Iraq.”

Calling for regional action against armed groups, he said: “We urge our Iraqi and Kurdish partners meet this moment, to disempower and dismantle Iran-aligned militias that continue to engage in violent and destabilizing activities and only serve to harm Iraqi sovereignty.”

He added, “We look forward to strengthened economic ties that will deliver real benefits for Americans and Iraqis.”

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, who spoke at the event, thanked Rigas for attending and said, “The presence of this diplomatic facility is a clear political message about the significance of Erbil and the Kurdistan Region,” describing the facility as the product of a “deep partnership” between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the U.S.

“Our relationship with the United States has been built over more than three decades on the foundation of trust, value, and joint efforts,” Barzani said, highlighting U.S. support during critical moments, including the 2003 war and the campaign against the Islamic State group.

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani addressed the gathering. “We are very proud allies of the United States and we will continue to stand with you as we move into a new phase and start a new chapter,” he said.

“This building is rising like a mountain, a solid and unshakable rock in Erbil, which is a testament to the old, strong bond between the United States and the people of the Kurdistan and Iraq,” he added.

PM Barzani also affirmed the Kurdistan Region’s strong support for President Donald Trump’s policy of “peace through strength, commerce and not conflict. We will continue to work with you.”

The U.S. originally established a diplomatic office in Erbil in 2007, later upgrading it to a Consulate General in 2011. Washington and Erbil maintain close ties rooted in decades of political, military and humanitarian cooperation, from the enforcement of no-fly zones in the early 1990s to joint efforts against ISIS.