Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani during a speech in his party’s election rally on Tuesday underlined that he hopes that Baghdad will reach a deal with the United States to continue to fight ISIS.

“The threat of terrorism still exists, which is why we hope that Baghdad, along with its allies, will reach a comprehensive agreement to ensure continuous cooperation and coordination so that ISIS can never rise again,” KDP President Barzani said in his speech.

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Baghdad has previously stated that there is no longer a need for the coalition against ISIS to operate in Iraq, expressing a desire to return to the pre-2014 status with the United States, when there were no U.S. troops in the country.

However, top Kurdish officials have emphasized the importance of the troops remaining in the country due the continued threat of ISIS and armed militias.

In September, The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States and Iraq had reached an agreement to withdraw U.S. and other foreign troops from Iraq by the end of 2026, with a small contingent of U.S. forces expected to stay, likely in the Kurdistan Region.

"We are entering the election process at a time when the region is in a complex and sensitive situation,” KDP President Barzani said. “We are working with our brothers in Baghdad in every way possible so that Iraq as a whole – and Kurdistan in particular – does not fall into the existing fire.”

“Our hope is that all sides will take refuge in dialogue and find peaceful solutions to their problems. However, it is also the responsibility of the officials in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region to make efforts to prevent Iraq and the region from being engulfed in those flames.”

He also added that the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad – and particularly between the KDP and the majority of Arab parties in Iraq, whether Shi’a or Sunni – is good and at a high level.

“There has also been significant understanding between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government of Iraq, which has opened the way to resolving outstanding issues. There is also a good level of understanding with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, and we are hopeful that after this election, all the existing problems will be solved.”

He added that the KRG will continue to look for a solution to these issues, but that there are certain principles the Kurds agreed upon after the fall of the Ba’ath regime in 2003. “But unfortunately, they are not being fully implemented. Partnership, balance, and consensus are constitutional and political agreements. If these are honored, no issue will remain between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad.”

“The Kurdistan Region’s relations with regional countries are also improving. We are not in a position to have problems with any country, but we are the masters of our own decisions. We will not submit our decisions to anyone,” he concluded.