Peregraf
The United States is advocating for the "reformation" of the Peshmerga Ministry, aiming to address challenges and to "organize and unify" the Peshmerga forces. A senior US military delegation convened with officials from the Kurdistan Region to discuss this initiative.
At the Kurdistan Region's Presidential office, Major General Kevin Leahy, the commander of the international coalition forces in Iraq and Syria, led a high-ranking US military delegation in discussions with senior officials, including Peshmerga Minister Shorsh Ismail.
As reported on the Kurdistan Region Presidency website, the meeting, which included US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Daniel Shapiro participating via video link, focused on assessing the integration of the Peshmerga forces and the reform efforts within the Peshmerga Ministry, as well as reviewing the latest developments in the overall process.
Despite years of endeavors by the United States and its allies, challenges remain in the unification of the Peshmerga forces. The Kurdistan Region Presidency noted that participants shared their perspectives on overcoming the obstacles hindering the process and resolving existing issues.
Both parties underscored the importance of coordination and collaborative efforts to ensure the success of the reform and unification of the Peshmerga forces, highlighting the significance of ongoing support from the United States and other allied nations within the international coalition to facilitate the completion of this process and to address the challenges faced.
With the sustained assistance from the US and coalition partners to the Peshmerga Ministry, there have been ongoing concerns regarding the slow advancement of the reform process and the unification of the Peshmerga forces, as well as the persistent political discord between the PUK and KDP within the ministry.
For seven years, an international coalition led by the United States, along with Britain, Germany, and the Netherlands, has aimed to establish a national army for the Kurdistan Region. This initiative involves the provision of financial resources, strategic advice, military supplies, and other forms of coordination, with the intent of integrating forces associated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) under the auspices of the Ministry of Peshmerga.
In the latter months of 2022, Peshmerga Minister Shorsh Ismail resigned due to challenges posed by the PUK and KDP that hindered the "organization and unification" of the Peshmerga forces, raising concerns among the United States and its allies. Subsequently, the PUK and KDP struggled to reach a consensus on a suitable candidate for the ministerial position.
The coalition forces subsequently cautioned the Peshmerga Ministry that failure to advance the reform process in a cohesive manner, along with the continued interference and disputes between the PUK and KDP, would result in the suspension of all assistance.
Ultimately, under pressure from the United States and the threat of halting aid to the Peshmerga, as well as the cessation of the reform process within the Ministry, the PUK and KDP persuaded the Peshmerga minister to resume his duties after nearly a year, assuring the removal of existing obstacles. The United States expressed its approval of Shorsh Ismail's return, stating, "We have high hopes for you to continue the reform process within the Peshmerga forces and create a national force."
The formal agreement between the US Department of Defense and the Peshmerga was established in 2016 and renewed in September 2020, primarily aimed at providing assistance, addressing the needs of the Peshmerga, and supporting the successful reform process within the Ministry of Peshmerga, as well as the reunification of Peshmerga units and forces.