On Nov. 26, as Americans prepared for Thanksgiving, extremist militias in Iraq launched drones and rockets at the only U.S.-funded gas field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Khor Mor. This attack was an assault on the democratic values of the Kurdish people, who share the same values as America; and it was a thumb in the eye to President Trump’s bold vision of a Middle East defined by peace, prosperity, and economic cooperation with the United States. If we want this vision to become reality, the U.S. and Kurdistan must ensure these extremist attacks stop and that Kurdistan can defend its people and its American partners.
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has stood shoulder to shoulder with the United States for decades. In President Trump’s first term, Kurdish Peshmerga worked hand-in-glove with the brave men and women of the U.S. military to defeat ISIS, and we have continued working with them to root out terrorist cells and stem the tide of violence in the Middle East. We want to expand our partnership with the Trump administration to promote the president’s focus on energy, investment, and long-term stability.
Since the start of the year, the Kurdistan Region has taken steps to strengthen the economic partnership with the United States. Energy cooperation has grown, new investments are underway, and both Americans and Kurds stand to see significant economic returns befitting a “golden age.”
When asked about the Khor Mor attack after his Dec. 2 cabinet meeting, President Trump said protecting the Kurdish people was important to him. Kurdistan is exceptionally thankful for his support, and we are eager to demonstrate that gratitude by opening our doors to even greater U.S. investment, cooperation, and mutually beneficial trade.
The benefits of a robust U.S.-Kurdistan relationship are clear. Kurdistan is an energy-rich region capable of exporting nearly 450,000 barrels of oil a day. More than 40 international companies — including major U.S. firms — operate there under production-sharing agreements, and the U.S. government has directly supported several of these investments—including some $250 million in Khor Mor. As President Trump seeks to dramatically expand America’s energy presence at home and abroad, Kurdistan is fertile ground for American energy companies to expand their portfolios and reap returns on investments.
We’ve made progress already. The Kurdistan Regional Government signed major contracts with two Texas-based companies worth $110 billion this year. With support from the Trump administration, we also succeeded in convincing Baghdad to end its two-year blockade of Kurdish oil exports. And, for the first time, the U.S. government sponsored a U.S. Chamber of Commerce trade delegation that brought major companies — including Google, IBM, Visa, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola — to Kurdistan to explore new opportunities.
Kurdistan is becoming a promising destination for the kind of U.S. investment that President Trump is seeking the Middle East. But as long as radical militias continue to target our energy infrastructure, we cannot reach the full potential of this partnership. Protecting both U.S. and Kurdish interests requires coordinated action.
Make no mistake: the Kurdish people, like the American people, do not accept demands from extremists. We will continue working with our American friends for mutual benefit as we have for decades—we just need to take action now to make that possible.
There are two urgent steps we can take. First, the U.S. should complete delivery of the air and drone defense systems that were promised in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act but not yet delivered. These systems would allow Kurdistan to defend itself and its partners, protect workers and civilians, and deter future attacks so economic cooperation can continue without disruption. Importantly, this will also ensure that the United States will not need additional boots on the ground in the region.
Second, the Trump administration should continue urging the Iraqi government to disarm non-state armed actors that have destabilized our region for years. As U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya recently said, “there is no place for such armed groups in a fully sovereign Iraq.” Congress has reinforced this point in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which conditions U.S. military assistance on credible steps by the Iraqi government to disarm these groups, while appropriately exempting Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Continued diplomatic pressure like this, in coordination with the Kurdistan Region, is essential to turn these commitments into action and bring an end to militia-driven violence once and for all.
President Trump has made clear that strengthening America’s energy sector is a priority. Kurdistan is ready to contribute. We have the resources, experience, and commitment to become a major energy and economic partner for the United States. If we work together to curb extremism and build the defenses needed to keep our region safe, we will all be stronger for it.
Treefa Aziz is the Kurdistan Regional Government Representative to the United States.
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