During his visit to Italy on Thursday, President Masoud Barzani met with Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto in Rome and discussed the latest developments in Western Kurdistan (northern Syria).
The Barzani headquarters said that Minister Crosetto warmly welcomed President Barzani and praised his role in the struggle for freedom, noting that he has dedicated his life to this cause as a Peshmerga.
President Barzani Meets with Italian Defense Minister
— KDP ForeignRelations (@kdpfro) January 22, 2026
During his visit to Italy on Thursday, January 22, 2026, in Rome, President Masoud Barzani met with Italian Defense Minister H.E. Guido Crosetto.
The Defense Minister warmly welcomed President Barzani and praised his role in… pic.twitter.com/3aA136o2EX
Minister Crosetto described the Kurdistan Region as a model of coexistence and stability and said it is a source of pride. He also affirmed that Italy is a close friend of the Kurdish people and will continue to support the people of Kurdistan.
Furthermore, the meeting also addressed the latest developments in Syria and the situation in Western Kurdistan (northern Syria), where there have been clashes between Kurdish forces and Syrian government forces.
President Barzani stressed that the Kurdish people in Syria must be protected. In response, Minister Crosetto reiterated that the Kurdish people must not be harmed, and that they should be protected and be able to live in freedom.
After the meeting, President Barzani underlined that “more important than anything else is the dignity and existence of the Kurdish people.
“We are ready to do whatever is necessary to protect the dignity of the people of Kurdistan. We discussed [Western Kurdistan] with Italy’s Minister of Defense. Italy will continue to support the Kurdish people and we are making every effort to achieve peace.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure the protection of the people of Kurdistan, especially in Western Kurdistan. Our hearts are with Western Kurdistan and the Kurdish region in Syria must be protected.”
A seasoned reporter and analyst who specializes in Kurdish affairs.
