President Barzani, French FM: ISIS remains a regional security threat

Shafaq News- Erbil (Updated at 23:40) 

The Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani met French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday to discuss strengthening relations between France across political, economic, and strategic fields, as well as the political situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

In a joint press conference with Barrot, Barzani thanked the French President Emmanuel Macron for Paris’s “ongoing support for the people of Kurdistan and their rights.” He also commended Macron’s role in backing the constitutional rights of the Kurdish people in Syria and in helping narrow differences between the Syrian Democratic Forces and Damascus.

On regional security, Barzani said he and the French foreign minister agreed that ISIS continues to pose a threat to regional stability, adding that the Global Coalition should maintain its missions.

In a post on X, President Barzani later affirmed he had “productive” discussions with Barrot on “our strategic partnership, political and security developments, and shared priorities.”

I’m pleased to receive Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs tonight in Erbil. We had productive discussions on our strategic partnership, political and security developments, and shared priorities. I reiterated my appreciation for France’s continued… pic.twitter.com/bj0igdc72r

— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) February 5, 2026