President Masoud Barzani welcomes the election of the new president of the United States of America

The people of the United States of America elect President Joe Biden as the 46th president of their country. Most of world leaders responded positively to his election and congratulated him on his victory. The leaders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq also welcomed the news and expressed hope and anticipation that the new administration would bring peace, stability and prosperity to the United States and the world.

President Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party moments after the announcement by major news outlets, sent out the following tweet in which he congratulated the president-elect:

“My heartfelt congratulations to you, my friend, President-elect @Joebiden for your victory. I sincerely hope and pray that the free world under your leadership will witness more peace and prosperity.”

President-elect Joe Biden is known for his deep knowledge and understanding of the Kurdish issue and political dynamic of the region where the Kurds live. He visited the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in 2002 while crossing the border between Turkey and Iraq. He addressed the Kurdistan Regional Parliament and expressed his support to the Kurdistan Region by saying, “the mountains are not your only friend.” He has since visited the region and Iraq 24 times.

Along with Leslie Gelb, the president emeritus of the Council of Foreign Relations, President- elect Joe Biden proposed the devolution of power to three regional governments: Sunni Arab, Shia Arab, and Kurdish.

The election of Joe Biden is an opportunity for the Kurds to make the best use of the knowledge, understanding and support he has shown in the past to strengthen ties with the United States and further develop the Kurdistan Region. This, of course, depends on the internal dynamics of Kurdish politics, in addition to future developments on regional and international levels.

The most pressing challenges for the Kurdistan Region at this historical juncture are to lessen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming the economic health implications of the pandemic. The United States of America under the new leadership and the region’s other international partners can assist the region overcome these challenges.