The Nechirvan Barzani-Zaidi equation: Kurdish immunity for the future of Iraq
The Nechirvan Barzani-Zaidi equation: Kurdish immunity for the future of Iraq
2026-07-13 07:11
Venus Baban
At a pivotal moment in the history of the new Middle East, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is launching an exceptional official visit, both in duration and composition, to the American capital, Washington, to meet with President Donald Trump. While attention is focused on the Iraqi delegation’s plane, the executive and economic kitchen, the real event that engineered the outcomes of this visit in advance did not take place in the White House, but was formulated in the corridors of Baghdad hours before takeoff through the Nechirvan Barzani-Ali al-Zaidi equation that was born in the emergency meeting of the state administration.
This equation does not represent a mere passing political coordination, but rather a constitutional lifeboat and a strategic shield that grants Al-Zidi’s government immunity and acceptance in American decision-making circles at a very critical and complex internal and regional time, culminating in Al-Zidi completing his government formation and gaining full confidence before leaving.
Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, is the cornerstone and architect of acceptance in Washington.
The visit of the President of the Kurdistan Region, President Nechirvan Barzani, to Baghdad was not in response to a protocol invitation, but rather a well-thought-out strategic step imposed by the critical timing of the visit. At a time when Baghdad has historically suffered from a chronic crisis of confidence with decision-making centers in Washington, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani stands out as a highly credible figure with deep-rooted historical ties with both the Republican and Democratic parties and with the administration of President Donald Trump in particular.
The key to safe entry into the White House… Mr. Ali Al-Zaidi realizes that the Trump administration, with its strict pragmatic mindset, will not grant authorization or financial exemptions to an Iraqi government viewed with suspicion by the West. The presence of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, in person and in his constitutional position, gave Mr. Al-Zaidi a certificate of good political conduct before the White House and Congress, transforming the discourse from a government emanating from a Shiite coordination framework to a balanced federal state government in which the region is a partner and a safety valve.
The thwarting of the factional veto… The presence of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani, restored the balance of power to the state. The sharp escalation statement issued by the Islamic Resistance to try to curb the visit and threaten foreign companies was politically shattered in the face of the federal-Kurdish partnership. Mr. Nechirvan Barzani gave Al-Zaidi’s steps comprehensive national legitimacy, sending a message to Trump that constitutional institutions are what lead diplomacy, not weapons.
The composition of the Iraqi delegation: a technical maneuver to address Trump’s mindset
Al-Zaidi is heading to Washington with a unique, unconventional delegation that was formulated in coordination and agreement with Erbil, where the traditional political character is absent and is dominated by the specialized technical team and the private sector.
The delegation’s structure and specific tasks: The executive and financial team, comprising the ministers of oil, planning, and finance, along with the governor of the central bank, focuses on providing concrete guarantees regarding the protection of the Iraqi banking system, the flow of dollars, and ensuring compliance with international contracts. The security and sovereignty team, represented by the national security advisor and the heads of the armed forces, is tasked with finalizing the serious understandings initiated with US envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad concerning the complete disarmament and banning of factions operating outside state authority. They also aim to provide Trump with evidence of the disassociation of certain armed groups as a practical step towards establishing sovereignty. The private sector leaders and business figures, the largest economic and investment delegation accompanying an Iraqi prime minister, are tasked with securing direct deals with American giants like GE and Chevron to rehabilitate the energy and gas infrastructure. This composition aligns perfectly with Trump’s doctrine of business-driven diplomacy, or productive deal-making diplomacy. Trump is not drawn to political promises but rather to the language of numbers and investment.
Unraveling the major dilemma and the oil deal mentality
It is precisely here that the genius of timing shines through in Mr. Nechirvan Barzani’s presence in Baghdad, where the last-minute deal was struck before takeoff:
Solving the dilemma of the region’s oil and American companies… The most pressing issue on Trump’s desk is the halt in the region’s oil exports and the legal and financial problems facing global energy companies, especially American ones. Al-Zidi could not sit with the heads of these giant companies in Washington with his hands tied. Therefore, the presence of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, provided a flexible legal and constitutional solution that guarantees the region’s entitlements and gives Mr. Al-Zidi the green light to conclude historic memoranda of understanding that restore the flow of oil through the Ceyhan port and protect American investments, which explains the issuance of the statement by the factions rejecting the investments at the same time.
The test of the new Middle East and the July 17th hurdle: The most critical aspect of this week-long visit is al-Zaidi’s scheduled participation in a summit in Washington on the 17th of this month, attended by Gulf leaders and American officials, to discuss the repercussions of a war with Iran and the features of the new Middle East. This axis is what ignited the anger of the factions and prompted them to warn against concessions and capitulation. At this juncture, the presence of the President of the Kurdistan Region at the heart of the political decision-making process in Baghdad is considered a guarantee for protecting Iraq’s position.
The Kurdistan Region, under the leadership of Mr. Nechirvan Barzani and its balanced relations with the Arab, Gulf and international environment, represents the reliable bridge that Zaidi’s Iraq can cross over towards a deep Gulf economic presence without falling into the trap of direct confrontation with Tehran. The President of the Kurdistan Region gives Baghdad flexibility to maneuver at the sensitive Washington conference to extract security and economic partnerships that guarantee the stability of the Iraqi dinar without provoking an internal crisis that would shatter the fragile truce.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is not flying to Washington on a diplomatic outing, but rather he is going with an institutional mandate whose pillars are weighed on the scales of gold. Its Kurdish and constitutional immunity was made in Baghdad through the tireless efforts of the President of the Kurdistan Region, Mr. Nechirvan Barzani. The success of this historic visit is no longer measured by the quality of the speeches, but by the size of the oil deals and energy contracts that the technical delegation and the Iraqi private sector will bring back.
Three crucial messages at a critical time:
To decision-makers in Baghdad: A genuine partnership with the Kurdistan Region is not a bargaining chip, but rather the sovereign shield and economic pillar that protects Iraq from collapse. Any retreat from current understandings would be economic suicide for the state.
To the forces of resistance: Sovereignty is not built by stifling the budget or through threats, but rather by a robust economy that invests the wealth of the central government and the region. The language of threats is outdated, and the world today—including the American administration—only cares about the language of stability and facts and figures.
To the Iraqi people: Our battle today in Washington is not a political struggle, but a battle to secure salaries and stabilize the dinar. The alliance being forged by Mr. Nechirvan Barzani and Prime Minister Ali Zaidi is the last line of defense to protect your future from the consequences of regional conflicts.
shafaq.com
