Barzani visits Baghdad to discuss Kurdistan budget share and security coordination

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani traveled to Baghdad for an official visit, taking part in meetings within the framework of the Prime Minister's office and the State Administration Coalition, which includes Iraq's four presidencies. Talks centered on the Kurdistan Region's budget share, cash flow, and mechanisms for paying salaries of regional civil servants and pensioners. The two sides also reached agreement on establishing a transparent payment framework to ease bottlenecks affecting oil exports passing through the Persian Gulf, and on moving forward a federal oil and gas law. Security coordination between federal forces and the Peshmerga, particularly in areas covered by Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, was also discussed against the backdrop of recent attacks on security headquarters and broader regional tensions. Following a closed meeting with the Prime Minister, Barzani issued a statement setting out five strategic principles: adherence to constitutional references, resolving financial difficulties, consolidating weapons under state authority, accelerating development priorities, and strengthening a unified front against regional risks. The visit is viewed as a concrete step toward moving the Baghdad-Erbil relationship from temporary understandings to a more permanent and institutional partnership.