Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on Monday, where the two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral ties and coordinate closely on efforts to stabilise Iraq and Syria, address terrorism threats, and promote Kurdish rights across the region.
The high-level meeting came at a critical time, as ongoing conflicts in Syria and broader Middle East instability continue to test the limits of regional diplomacy. Both Macron and Barzani reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering cooperation across political, security and humanitarian sectors.
“Our relationship with France is very special and continues to grow stronger,” Barzani said after the meeting, calling Macron a “dear friend” and expressing gratitude for France’s enduring support for both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, discussions focused on deepening French cooperation with both Baghdad and Erbil (Hewlêr), particularly in stabilisation and reconstruction efforts. The leaders stressed the need to preserve peace in Iraq and protect it from the ripple effects of regional unrest.
The meeting also addressed regional security threats, including the resurgence risk of the Islamic State (ISIS). France remains an active member of the Global Coalition against Da’esh (ISIS) and maintains military personnel in northeast Syria, working with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alongside American troops.
Macron and Barzani reiterated “the importance of protecting the rights of Kurds and other communities in Syria”, calling for political dialogue and inclusive governance as the only path to sustainable peace.
The talks come amid political transition in Damascus following the December 2024 overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by opposition factions led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly Julani). Sharaa’s appointment as interim president in January was hailed by some as a turning point, but concerns have grown about his exclusion of minorities, particularly Kurds.
Barzani met with Sharaa last Friday on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey and urged greater Kurdish representation in Syria’s constitutional drafting process. He had also welcomed a recent deal between Sharaa’s government and the SDF to integrate the Kurdish forces into state institutions, describing it as an “appropriate roadmap” for the future.
Barzani also held separate talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the same forum, where he underscored the importance of reviving Turkey’s stalled peace process with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The process has recently seen renewed momentum after the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire and signalled openness to dialogue.
The Kurdistan Region presidency’s chief of staff, Fawzi Hariri, said Barzani played a key mediating role in the discussions. “In the negotiations that the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party and PKK conduct with Turkey, the Kurdistan Region and its president have a direct role in conveying viewpoints,” he said.
France has a long history of engagement with the Kurdistan Region, dating back to the 1990s, when it supported the no-fly zone over northern Iraq following the Gulf War—paving the way for Kurdish self-rule. After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, France was among the first countries to open a consulate in Erbil and has remained a steadfast ally ever since.
Speaking to Rudaw, French Senator Rémi Féraud praised the “deepening partnership” between France and the Kurdistan Region. “President Barzani is an important and trusted actor in this region,” he said, adding that the diplomatic efforts “have proven vital, particularly in a region marked by ongoing instability and geopolitical shifts”.
Barzani’s visit to Paris follows a similar trip in December, when he attended the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral and held informal talks with Macron. This week’s meeting marked a continuation of what both sides have described as a relationship built on trust and regular engagement.
As regional dynamics shift and new leaderships emerge, Macron and Barzani’s alliance appears increasingly strategic—anchored in shared priorities: regional stability, counterterrorism, and inclusive governance for marginalised communities, especially Kurds.
