The U.S. and Iraq are to launch strategic negotiations on the future of relations between the two sides as soon as possible.

The institution has called the negotiations as important, but noted that the United States has a greater presence in the Kurdish region and believes that the U.S. could not protect its own interests in Iraq without supporting the Kurds.

Brookings Institution has advised the U.S. to help increasing Kurdish political influence in Baghdad and stabilizing the autonomous region. It also warned that if the U.S. does not support Kurds in Baghdad, it will not be able to fully rely on Kurds to maintain its interests in Iraq in the future.

Referring to the Kurdish region’s economic crisis and Erbil's political and financial differences with Baghdad, Brookings advised Washington not to allow the region's to fully surrender to Baghdad due to its economic crisis and reminded Washington that Iraqi Kurds could be an effective card for the United States, but that the U.S. should previously help the Kurdish region to resolve its problems.

Reporter’s code: 50101