Delphi, Greece – The deputy prime minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan local government told Breitbart News that he and the Kurds see President Donald Trump’s return to the White House as a historic opportunity for deeper business and economic ties between the United States and Kurdistan, and between Iraq and Iraq.
Kubad Tarabani, Deputy Prime Minister of Kurdistan’s Local Government (a semi-autonomous region within Iraq), is with Breitbad News for an exclusive interview at Greece’s Delphi Economic Forum earlier this month.
“The Kurds are your number one ally in that part of the world,” Tarabani told Breitbart News when he was asked by President Trump what his message was after reading the article. “We want to work with you, the President and your administration and prove to you that we are worth it.”
The Delphi Economic Forum is an annual meeting of political, security, economic and cultural leaders in ancient Delphi, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kiliakos Mitotakis interviewed Breitbart’s news before the Forum and Trump responded here, but spoke at the event as well as major governments and security officials in Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States. In addition to supporting the leadership of the Kurdistan government operating within Iraq, Tarabani was the president of Iraq from April 2005 to July 2014. Jalal Tarabani’s leader came shortly after the fall of Saddam Hassain, who was apparently fallen by the US forces in 2003.
Trump famously criticized former President George W. Bush and Barack Obama for not using US efforts in the war in Iraq to secure the long-term economic benefits of the US from an oil-rich country.
Asked about this criticism from Trump that he repeatedly made during the president’s first campaign in 2016, Tarabani generally agreed with Trump, who argued that there was nothing economically showing for all the blood and treasured Americans that the US had defeated Saddam Hussein. Tarabani said he hopes that by increasing local economic ties with the United States, Trump can help America get it right.
“The United States has invested so much in Iraq so far through the war, emotionally through the lives of soldiers, and through their most respected assets that it means to its people. Is the United States making money from Iraq? No. “So this is what makes us frustrating. We are open for business and deal with people who want to come and come and do work in Kurdistan. But after spending time with the United States, we want you to be there. I hope that American businesses are there. I think that other priorities and geographical issues have been doing more in the previous administration.
Tarabani also said that Kurdistan is particularly dependent on its relationships with other regional partners as it is inland.
“It’s clearly inland Kurdistan, and a lot of what happens locally affects Kurdistan,” Tarabani said. “We are a federal region in our country. We have our own laws, our own parliament, our government, but our biggest challenge is regional instability. If we can’t export it, we will not have oil and gas. Our relationship with Baghdad is not always important. Come to this forum allows us to meet many interesting people and learn from other countries.”
He in particular argued that Kurdistan is better than many other places in the Middle East than the US business investment environment.
“Unlike other parts of the Middle East, Kurdistan is a highly promoted investment and business opportunity for the US, American businesses and the economic interests of the US,” Tarabani told Breitbart News. “It’s obviously important to focus on counter-terrorism cooperation and I think it’s going to continue for a while, but at the same time, we’re increasing trade and economic partnerships.”
When asked if Trump has returned to the White House, when asked whether he electrified and energized the region in hopes of such business opportunities with the West, particularly the US, Tarabani said he has “absolutely.” The hope he elaborates is that Trump helps America see more than just security and counterterrorism aspects.
“In Kurdistan, there is a lot of excitement and there is a lot of hope and saying from the business community and the government,” Tarabani said. “We are used to working with the US through successive administrations on political and security issues. We have experienced multiple wars together. But now is the time to change focus and how we are leveraging Kurdistan’s security and prosperity. Problem – but when they turn their gaze to Iraq, they will see that Kurdistan is on their side.”
The good news is that the Kurds already have many friends throughout the Trump administration, particularly citing national security advisers Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also said he traveled to Washington, D.C. for Trump’s appointment in January.
“Yes, thankfully, we have many friends in the administration in various agencies, NSC, and states, etc,” Tarabani said when asked if he was well accepted by the new administration. “We have raised many friends over the years, and now many are in good positions. We hope that this will lead to more influential policies for Kurdistan and the region as a whole.”
