On Wednesday, President Masoud Barzani received Italy’s Ambassador to Iraq Niccolò Fontana, during which the ambassador stressed that his country attaches importance to the future of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

The official X account of Italy’s Embassy in Baghdad underlined that Italy remains committed to supporting Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and to “advancing our shared goals of security, stability and cooperation.”

The meeting comes prior to the upcoming withdrawal of the U.S.led-Coalition from the Kurdistan Region at the end of September. 

Italy previously had around 300 troops in Erbil involved in training Kurdish security forces as part of the Coalition, but it temporarily withdrew in March due to Iranian drone and missile attacks.

During the meeting, the two officials referred to the coordination and joint cooperation between the Italian military and the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces in the fight against terrorism in previous years, and also stressed the importance of further developing relations between the Kurdistan Region and Italy.

Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani also received Ambassador Fontana on Wednesday, and discussed the ways to further strengthen relations and continued support to the Peshmerga.

They also discussed outstanding issues between the KRG and the federal government of Iraq. Prime Minister Barzani stressed the importance of upholding and respecting the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region, including ensuring a fair share of the federal budget for 2027 in accordance with the Constitution.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also met with Ambassador Fontana on Tuesday and expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for Italy’s continued role and support within the framework of the U.S.-led Coalition, as well as its military, humanitarian, development, and archaeological assistance.

For his part, Ambassador Fontana reaffirmed Italy’s commitment to deepening relations and expanding cooperation. He also emphasized the importance Italy places on its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and on their security and stability, reaffirming Italy’s continued support for both.