On Thursday, May 22, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright in Washington, D.C., as part of his official visit to the United States.
During the meeting, Secretary Wright welcomed Prime Minister Barzani and reaffirmed U.S. support for two significant energy deals recently signed between the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources and U.S. companies HKN Energy and WesternZagros.
He emphasized the importance of expanding U.S. energy investments in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Thursday met with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/Qgv0aTKiR9
— Kurdistan Chronicle (@KrdChronicle) May 22, 2025
According to a statement from the KRG, Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude for U.S. support and provided an overview of the KRG’s reform efforts across various sectors, particularly in energy, as well as initiatives such as Runaki and MyAccount.
He also discussed the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the region’s economic foundations.
Following their meeting, both leaders participated in a conference on the future of energy and power in the Kurdistan Region, hosted by the Al-Monitor Global Institute.
“We are very keen to work with and support the people of the Kurdish Region to turn the endowments of their underground materials into resources.”
— Kurdistan Chronicle (@KrdChronicle) May 22, 2025
— Chris Wright, United States Secretary of Energy pic.twitter.com/xAwqpzsnPI
“We are very keen to work with and support the people of the Kurdish Region to turn the endowments of their natural resources into valuable assets,” Secretary Wright said during the panel discussion.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Barzani highlighted the KRG’s commitment to development.
“We are here to demonstrate that Kurdistan is not only effective in fighting terrorism alongside our allies, but it is also ready to build with them to serve our people and attract U.S. investors interested in opportunities in Kurdistan,” he said.
This meeting follows the Kurdistan Region’s announcement of multi-billion-dollar deals with U.S. companies aimed at advancing its energy sector. Secretary Wright noted President Trump’s belief in “prosperity at home and peace abroad, commerce not conflict,” and commended the Kurdistan Region for its energy policy, expressing hope for the growth of commercial relations with U.S. companies.
