Baghdad’s Anti-Corruption Drive and the Promise of $400 Billion in U.S. Support

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – A report claims that Tom Barrack, the U.S. presidential envoy for Iraq affairs, emphasized during a meeting with the Baghdad government that success in combating corruption and curbing the waste of financial resources would be a prerequisite for expanding U.S. economic support and launching a long-term partnership with Iraq.

Choman Mohammad:

The lack of a unified position has weakened the Kurds' international position

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service - Choman Mohammad, a legal expert and political observer, referring to Tom Barak's recent trip to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, warned that internal differences and the lack of a unified political position have weakened the region's international status and made it more difficult to solve strategic cases.

Lebanese newspaper:

Tom Barak called for reopening the corruption cases of senior figures in Iraq

Service of Iraq and Kurdistan Region - Lebanon's "Al-Nahar" newspaper reported that Tom Barak, the special envoy of the United States, has asked the Iraqi authorities to re-open major corruption cases without considering the political influence and party affiliation of individuals, and that the accused should be dealt with judicially.

The crisis of trust in America and the need to redefine the position of the Kurds

Iran Service - At first glance, Tom Barak's statements about the inaccuracy of some claims about the role of the Kurds in the tensions between the United States and Iran, especially the very important issue of giving weapons to a part of them, may seem like a diplomatic stance. But in fact, the importance of these statements lies not in their content, but in the geopolitical context in which these words are spoken.

Washington's new doctrine; Turning Iraq and Syria into an economic corridor

World Service - The recent US agreements with Iraq and Syria, from the reconstruction of the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline to the entry of large American oil and technology companies, show that Washington is designing a new regional order that turns energy, technology and capital into its main tools of influence.

Trump's Special Envoy:

Reports of arms shipments to the Kurds are being redacted

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - Trump's special representative, in a meeting with the officials of the Kurdistan Region, emphasized that a new and accurate assessment of the allegations related to the delivery of weapons to the Kurds will be prepared and presented to the President of the United States, and asked the regional authorities not to worry about this issue.

Washington's new message to the syrian Kurds

World Service - After Mazloum Abdi's meeting with the US special envoy in Erbil, sources close to the Syrian Kurdish forces report increasing pressure from Washington for the full implementation of the January agreement with the government of Ahmed al-Shora.

Barak asked Mazloum Abdi to sever SDF's relations with PKK

Syrian Service - Informed sources told Al-Arabiya/Al Hadith that "Thomas Barak", Trump's special representative for Iraq and Syria, in a meeting with "Mazloum Abdi" in Erbil, called for the SDF to cut ties with the PKK and to complete the process of integrating these forces into the Syrian army by the end of this year.

America's conditions for continuing to support the Syrian Kurds

The US-World Service has made support for the Syrian Kurds conditional on full integration with Damascus. Tom Barak has called for the SDF to cut ties with the PKK.

Washington's farewell to the crises of Kurdistan region

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - the Kurds may lose the support of the United States forever; This is the message of Victoria Taylor, the former official of the US Department of State for Iraq and Iran affairs for the Kurds. In his latest statements, he paints a disturbing picture of the future of the Kurdistan region.

from Ankara and Damascus to Baghdad; Tom Barak's mission and concerns about strengthening centralism in Iraq

Iraq and the Kurdistan Region Service - The appointment of Tom Barak as the US special representative in Iraq and Syria is considered a sign of Washington's new tendency to manage Iraq's political and security affairs more directly; An approach that simultaneously focuses on strengthening the central government, curbing Iran's influence, and redefining the relationship between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.

Mazloom Abdi:

We talked about the integration of the Syrian Democratic Forces

Syria Service - SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi announced the agreement and consultation with Trump's special representative and the president of the Kurdistan Region regarding the integration of SDF forces into the structure of the Syrian interim government and support for the country's political process.

Barzani and Tom Barak emphasized on maintaining the Iraqi political system

Iraq Service and Kurdistan Region - In the meeting between Masoud Barzani and Tom Barak in Pirmam, the two sides discussed the stability of Iraq, the cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad, the disarmament of armed groups and the development of economic relations.

Ali Zaidi's meeting with Trump's special envoy; Emphasis on limiting weapons and developing economic cooperation

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zaidi, in a meeting with Donald Trump's special representative in Iraq and Syria, discussed the implementation of the program to disarm armed groups outside the framework of the government, strengthening Iraqi sovereignty and expanding economic and investment cooperation between Baghdad and Washington.

Mazloum Abdi's trip to Kurdistan region; Meeting with Thomas Barak and Nechirvan

Syria Service - SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi is in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and today he will meet Trump's representative in Syria, Thomas Barak, and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani.

How did America curb the Kurdish crisis before leaving Syria?

According to the Kurdish Studies Center, Washington tried to prevent an all-out war between Damascus and the Kurds before completing the US military withdrawal from Syria and to close the case of the Syrian Democratic Forces or "SDF" from the path of political agreement.

Tom Barak welcomed the delivery of Iraqi armed groups' weapons to the government

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service - Tom Barak, the US special representative for Syria and Iraq, welcomed the decision of some Iraqi armed groups to hand over their weapons to the government and considered it an important step towards the formation of the "new Iraqi government".

Is Tom Barak targeting Iraqi federalism?

World Service - With increasing concerns in the Kurdistan Region, due to the appointment of Tom Barak as Donald Trump's special representative in Iraq, some observers say that the policies of the special representative of Trump may upset the fragile balance between Baghdad and Erbil.

Concerns about strengthening central governments and limiting Kurdish autonomy

World Service - The appointment of Tom Barak as the central figure of the Trump administration's regional policy, especially after the developments in northeastern Syria, has created a wave of concern among the Kurds; concern that Washington will once again move towards strengthening central governments and limiting Kurdish self-governing structures.

Tom Barak's first disappointing message for the Kurds; Emphasis on strengthening the capitals and ignoring the Kurdish issue

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - Tom Barak, the new US special representative for Syria and Iraq, in his first message emphasized the cooperation of Iraq, Syria and Turkey to ensure the stability of the region; The message, despite addressing ethnic and religious differences, did not mention Kurds and their political rights.

Thomas Barak and America's policy in Syria

Syria Service - While it was thought that Thomas Barak's mission in Syria was over, Donald Trump's decision to hand over the Iraq case in addition to the Syria case to this American diplomat and businessman showed that his role in Washington's Middle East strategy has not only not decreased, but has entered a new phase; A role that, at the same time as trying to normalize Damascus' relations with the world, has been accompanied by criticisms about the way America is dealing with Syria's security, political and humanitarian crises.

Tom Barak, Trump's special representative in Türkiye, Iraq and Syria

World Service - By simultaneously appointing Tom Barak as the special envoy for Syria and Iraq, Donald Trump strengthened his position as his most important representative in the developments in Shamatta and Mesopotamia; An appointment that contains important messages for Damascus, Baghdad, Ankara and the Kurds.

The end of Thomas Barak's mission as the US special representative for Syria

Syria Service - The Secretary of State of the United States of America announced that the mission of Thomas Barak as the country's special representative for Syria has ended and will not be renewed.

Thomas Barak, Trump's special representative for Syria:

Syria has become the "geopolitical laboratory" of the powers

Syria Service - "Thomas Barak", Trump's special representative for Syria, announced that this country has become a geopolitical laboratory of powers in the Middle East.

US claims about efforts to improve economic relations between Erbil and Baghdad

World service – Tom Barak, the US special envoy for Iraq and Syria, announced Washington's efforts to reduce economic tensions between Erbil and Baghdad and lift trade restrictions imposed on the Kurdistan Regional Government. This move comes amid escalating financial and customs disputes the two sides.

Tom Barak praises the peace process between the PKK and Turkey

World service – Praising the ongoing negotiations between the PKK and Turkey, Tom Barak considered this process a meaningful opportunity to end one of the longest conflicts in the region and expressed hope for its success.

Mazloum Abdi's meeting with Bafel Talabani and Trump's special representative

Syria Service - SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi, while referring to his meeting with Bafel Talabani and Trump's representative for Syria affairs, Thomas Barak, in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, emphasized that these talks were held with the aim of strengthening cooperation and reviewing the recent developments in the region.

Mazlum Abdi:

We value the value of working together to achieve a better future for our people.

The commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) has issued a message on his visit to Sulaimani and his meeting with Tom Barak and Bafel Talabani.

Kurdish analyst put forward;

Is Tom Barak Trump's new representative in Iraq?

World Service - Tom Barak, who is the US ambassador to Turkey and Trump's special representative in Syria, is actually acting as the representative of the US government in Iraq instead of Mark Sawaya, with extensive meetings with Kurdish leaders and Iraqi politicians. Some analysts believe this could be a sign of his official, though undeclared, appointment as Trump's representative in Iraq.

Talabani and the tom barak emphasized on speeding up the formation of the government and the unity of the Kurds

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - The head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the special representative of the United States of America for Iraqi affairs, in a political meeting, discussed the process of forming the new government of Iraq, the cabinet of the Kurdistan Region and the need for a united position of the Kurds in the current situation.