The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has joined an agreement with the UK and Iraqi federal government to enhance border security and combat human trafficking, a deal aimed at addressing illegal migration to the UK.

The deal was signed during a three-day visit by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to Baghdad and Erbil in late November 2024. In the Kurdistan Region’s capital, Secretary Cooper met with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and other relevant ministers.

Agreement content 

During her visit, Secretary Cooper signed a joint statement on border security: a first-of-its-kind agreement with Iraq that sets out the commitments of both countries to work more closely in tackling people smuggling and bolstering border security, including a statement by the Home Office noting that the UK government has pledged £200,000 to support projects in the Kurdistan Region that will enhance capabilities concerning irregular migration and border security.

Secretary Cooper also signed a declaration of intent, through which the UK and Iraq will build on operational and bilateral cooperation on serious organized crime, including organized immigration crime, narcotics, modern slavery and human trafficking, and illicit finance. 

As part of this, communications campaigns will be launched in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to counter the misinformation and myths that people smugglers post online.

Furthermore, Secretary Cooper signed a joint statement on migration that includes further work on the returns of people who have no right to be in the UK – where returns are currently very slow – and the continued provision of reintegration programs to support returnees.

“Central to the statements agreed today is a commitment from the UK, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to international and humanitarian law and commitments to international human rights standards,” a statement from the Home Office said, emphasizing that that agreements represent the biggest operational package to tackle serious organized crime and people smuggling between the UK, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region.

“There are smuggler gangs profiting from dangerous small boat crossings whose operations stretch back through northern France, Germany, across Europe, to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and beyond. Organized criminals operate across borders, so law enforcement needs to operate across borders too,” Secretary Cooper said in a separate statement. “I want to thank my hosts for their hospitality. This is an important new partnership between the UK government, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to build security and keep people safe.”

KRG is on board 

Following his meeting with Secretary Cooper on November 28, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described the UK as a “valued partner” of the Kurdistan Region. Commenting on the agreements, he pointed out that they have reinforced shared responsibilities to fight organized crime and address immigration challenges.

Exchanging views on regional developments and the KRG’s role in security and stability of the region, Secretary Cooper stressed that the UK views the Kurdistan Region “as an important strategic partner in countering terrorism and security challenges,” a statement on the KRG’s official website said.

In her meeting with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, the two officials focused on strengthening relations between Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the UK. They emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in various sectors, particularly in security cooperation and combating organized crime, illegal migration, human trafficking, money laundering, and cybercrime, according to a statement by the President’s Office.

Following the official meetings, Secretary Cooper visited the historical Citadel of Erbil, where she recorded a video message to highlight the achievements of her visit. She noted that the UK has had partnerships with the KRG in the past, but the new agreements were to create a roadmap for future collaboration.

“We have a partnership that goes back through many years; but this is about a partnership for the future and the work that we’re going to do together to tackle serious organized crime, particularly the smuggling and trafficking gangs that undermine border security and put lives at risk. We’ve had some important discussions with Kurdistan authorities here about what we need to do together to tackle those criminal gangs,” the Home Secretary said.

The Home Office statement also noted that this international collaboration marks a shift in the UK government’s approach to tackling irregular migration. Through the Border Security Command, the UK is developing a whole system approach to tackling irregular migration, including arming UK law enforcement with the powers it needs, working bilaterally on cross-border cooperation, and ensuring law enforcement across borders are working together.

Sardar Sattar is a translator and journalist based in the Kurdistan Region. He has translated several books and political literature into Kurdish and English. He writes regularly for local and international newspapers and journals.