Kurdish Policy Analysis

  Kurdish Disunity Crisis: KDP and PUK and Kurdish Influence in Iraq Collapses Veteran Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari says deepening KDP–PUK divisions are weakening Kurdish leverage in Baghdad and Washington, while the United States grows increasingly frustrated with political paralysis in the Kurdistan Region. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 26 May 2026  Senior Kurdish politician Hoshyar Zebari warns that divisions between the KDP and PUK are weakening Kurdish power in Baghdad and Washington as the US pressures Kurdish leaders to unite, reform the Peshmerga, and end political paralysis in the Kurdistan Region. For decades, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq was viewed in Washington as America’s most reliable ally in Iraq — a stable pro-Western enclave surrounded by regional chaos, Iranian influence, and collapsing Arab political systems. Today, that image is beginning to fracture. In unusually blunt remarks during a lengthy interview in Washington, veter...

  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 25 May 2026 As Iraq’s post-Eid political battle intensifies, the judiciary chief is emerging at the center of a high-stakes struggle involving the White House, Iran-backed factions, Kurdish parties, and Nouri al-Maliki’s fading network. The Trump administration is reportedly backing Iraqi judiciary chief Fayeq Zaydan as a new power broker in Baghdad, triggering fears of a deep political realignment involving Sudani, Qais al-Khazali, the PUK, and Nouri al-Maliki. Trump’s Search for a New Iraqi Partner For years, Washington’s Iraq strategy relied on familiar political figures — men who could balance Iran, negotiate with the United States, and preserve Iraq’s fragile state structure without triggering total collapse. But as Iraq enters another volatile phase of elite competition, a new name is reportedly emerging inside American calculations: Fayeq Zaydan . According to informed Iraqi political sources and regional briefing, the...

Former U.S. counterterrorism official highlights Kurdistan Region’s strategic role amid escalating Middle East tensions. Joe Kent highlights Kurdistan’s strategic role as tensions rise, calling it a cornerstone of stability and diplomacy in the Middle East ERBIL, Iraq, April 7 ( Kurdish Policy Analysis ) A senior former U.S. counterterrorism official has underscored the critical role of Kurdish leadership in maintaining regional stability and shaping future diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, as tensions continue to rise across the region. Joe Kent said in recent remarks that the Kurdistan Region remains a key partner for the United States and its allies, particularly in security cooperation and counterterrorism efforts. Kent emphasized that Kurdish political and security institutions have proven to be reliable actors in a volatile region, contributing to efforts against extremist groups and helping maintain relative stability compared to other parts of Iraq. The Kurdistan Region,...

       As war with Iran shakes oil routes and alliances, a historic power shift is quietly unfolding. From oil chokepoints to shifting alliances, escalating conflict is pushing Arab Gulf states toward a historic geopolitical turning point Kurdish Political Analysis - The ongoing conflict involving  Iran  is no longer a localized confrontation—it is rapidly evolving into a geopolitical shockwave with the potential to reshape the global order. ERBIL/RIYADH/DUBAI, April 2 (Reuters)  — Escalating conflict involving  Iran  is placing mounting pressure on Arab Gulf economies and raising questions about long-standing security arrangements with the  United States . Disruptions to shipping through the  Strait of Hormuz  have led to significant losses in oil and gas exports, with regional officials warning of continued economic fallout if instability persists. Major producers including  Saudi Arabia , the  United Arab Emir...

Is Iraq Becoming “Another Iran”? Why Washington May Be Misreading Baghdad. A growing gap between U.S. assumptions and Iraqi reality is raising alarm among analysts.   The U.S. calls Iraq a partner — but critics warn that assumption may be dangerously outdated By Kurdish Policy Analysis | Analysis Sulaimanyah, Iraq 31 March For more than two decades, U.S. policy in Iraq has been built on a foundational belief: that Baghdad is a sovereign partner, capable of acting independently and aligning—at least broadly—with Western strategic goals. But what if that belief is no longer true? A growing body of analysis suggests that Washington is not just misreading Iraq—it may be clinging to an illusion. Beneath the surface of formal diplomacy lies a far more complex reality: a fragmented state where power is divided, authority is contested, and Iranian influence runs deep through political and security institutions. The Core Miscalculation At the heart of the argument is a stark claim:...