The Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace, a research initiative of the School of International Service (SIS) at American University in Washington, D.C., will hold an event on October 29 on the implications of the upcoming U.S. presidential elections for the Kurds in the Middle East.
In the United States, the presidential race is ongoing between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, with the election scheduled for November 5.
Speakers for the event include former U.S. Ambassador William V. Roebuck, who now serves as the Executive Vice President of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington; former Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, Chair of the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program; and Henri J. Barkey, an adjunct senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
They will discuss the implications of the elections for U.S. policy toward the Kurds and Kurdistan, how Kurdish actors and regional states may respond, and what pathways to peace may look like.
The panel discussion will be moderated by SIS Barzani Scholar In-Residence and Director of the Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace Yerevan Saeed.
Please register to join us for a discussion on the implications of the U.S. elections for Kurds in the Middle East.
— Global Kurdish Initiative for Peace (@KurdishSIS) October 15, 2024
Date: October 29th
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: SIS Founders Roomhttps://t.co/Q2YnHVbVKX pic.twitter.com/GihmC8RRjb
“The goal of this event is to assess how the policies of the next U.S. administration could impact the Kurdish people and their aspirations for autonomy and security, particularly in light of reports regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Syria,” Saeed told Kurdistan Chronicle.
“To this end, we have assembled a distinguished group of former officials and scholars with firsthand experience in the Middle East, especially in Kurdish affairs, who possess deep insights into the complexities and challenges facing the Kurdish people.”
“The discussions will focus on a range of key topics, including effective strategies for U.S. engagement, the role of regional powers, and how the United States can continue to support the Kurds even in the absence of a direct military presence in the region. Diplomatic initiatives, economic partnerships, and humanitarian assistance can serve to empower Kurdish communities and ensure their voices are heard in the broader geopolitical dialogue.”
He underlined that the event will be held at a critical time, as attention is increasingly diverted to other global issues, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and rising tensions with China.
“This event will serve as an important reminder to policymakers in Washington that the Kurds remain a valuable and reliable ally – one that should not be overlooked and forgotten, regardless of the challenges or limited options available. It is crucial that the U.S. maintains its commitment to the Kurdish cause, ensuring that their aspirations for security and self-governance are not sidelined, no matter who occupies the Oval Office in the coming years.”
Read More: U.S. Consul General Urges Voters to Participate in Kurdistan Elections
On September 19, U.S. Consul General Bitner in Erbil released a video message in which he called on both Kurdish and U.S citizens to vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential and Kurdistan Parliament elections.
“We encourage all eligible citizens in the United States and abroad, including here in the Kurdistan Region, to vote in the U.S. elections in November. Of course, the Kurdistan Region will be also holding its own elections on October 20 and we encourage the people of the Kurdistan Region to fully participate in the democratic process here by voting on October 20.”
