In a meeting on April 2 with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil Hayyan Abdul Ghani, U.S. Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski underlined that “leveraging oil and gas resources based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq can assist Iraq in advancing towards energy autonomy.” 

In preparation for PM Sudani’s visit to the US @HAbdalghanii @iqministryofoil and I discussed Iraqi energy independence benefiting Iraqis. Leveraging Iraq Kurdistan Region-based oil and gas can help Iraq on its path towards energy autonomy. #USIraq360Partnership

— Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) April 2, 2024

In a post on X, she added that the meeting was in preparation for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s visit to the United States, which is set to take place on April 15. 

Read More: U.S. Encourages Efforts to Enhance Baghdad-Erbil Ties

During a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on March 26, Secretary Blinken encouraged efforts to enhance the Baghdad-Erbil relationship.

On March 25, 2023, independent oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through Turkey were stopped after a Paris-based international arbitration court in favor of Baghdad against Ankara. 

Read More: Congressmen Urge Biden to Press Baghdad on Kurdistan Oil Exports

In a letter released on March 28, eight Republican members of Congress urged President Joe Biden to make the immediate resumption of the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports a precondition for any visit by Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani to the United States.

Moreover, in a statement released on March 23, the Association of the Petroleum Industry of Kurdistan, which represents several international oil companies in the Kurdistan Region, called on the Biden administration and U.S. members of Congress to push the Iraqi government to resume crude oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

Words matter. It’s good to see the U.S. ambassador to Iraq emphasize the importance of oil and gas production in Kurdistan Region w/ @iqministryofoil.

Let’s get the oil flowing through Iraq-Türkiye pipeline, before PM Sudani visits @WhiteHouse. https://t.co/bFBdluQBsb pic.twitter.com/u5D9FgO1Ui

— APIKUR (@apikur_oil) April 2, 2024

During an official visit to Washington, D.C., in February, Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani called on the Biden administration to accelerate the resumption of oil exports.

“The lack of exports has hurt everyone — costing billions in lost revenues. It makes no sense,” Prime Minister Barzani wrote on X on March 1.