Kurdistan Region President Receives UK Ministry of Defence Senior Adviser for the Middle East

ARK News.. Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met on Thursday, September 10, 2026, with Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Senior Adviser for the Middle East and North Africa, and an accompanying delegation of officials and military advisers.

During the meeting, which was attended by the British Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, the two sides discussed ways to enhance British security and defense cooperation with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, placing weapons exclusively under the control of the Iraqi federal government, steps to unify the Peshmerga forces, and the latest security developments in the region.

President Nechirvan Barzani expressed his appreciation for Britain’s continued support through providing training and military and security advice to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, stressing the importance of maintaining joint coordination to confront the remnants of ISIS and the threats posed by terrorism.

For his part, Vice Admiral Ahlgren said his country values its relations with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as their security and stability, and reiterated Britain’s readiness to continue cooperation and strengthen its security and military partnership with Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Relations between Erbil and Baghdad, the latest developments in the Middle East, and the importance of resolving disputes through peaceful means were also discussed during the meeting.

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