Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani received Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, the United Kingdom’s Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa, and an accompanying delegation of British military officials and advisers in Erbil.

The meeting, attended by the UK Consul General in Erbil, focused on security and defence cooperation between the United Kingdom, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. Discussions included efforts to place arms under the control of the Federal Government of Iraq, the ongoing process of unifying the Peshmerga forces, and recent security developments in Iraq and the wider region.

Kurdistan Region President Barzani expressed his appreciation for the UK’s continued support for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, particularly through military training and security advice. He stressed the importance of maintaining coordination and joint efforts to confront the remnants of ISIS and other terrorist threats.

Vice Admiral Ahlgren reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, emphasizing the importance of preserving stability and security in the country. He also reiterated Britain’s readiness to continue cooperation and further strengthen its security and military partnership with Baghdad and Erbil.

The talks also addressed relations between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Federal Government of Iraq, recent developments in the Middle East, and the importance of resolving regional conflicts through peaceful means.