President of the KRI Nechirvan Barzani’s quiet diplomacy could secure Syria’s northeast, protect US energy interests, and prevent regional spillover. 

Since the rapid twelve-day offensive that took over Damascus in late 2024, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has sought to reassert central government authority across Syria’s fragmented political landscape. Across the country, Druze, Alawite, Kurdish, and other communities have articulated differing expectations regarding autonomy, minority protections, and participation in decision-making within a newly forming Syrian state. In the northeast, the Syrian Kurds—longtime US partners through the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—now face uncertainty over the future of their political and security arrangements.

Why Northeast Syria’s Oil and Gas Matter

The Kurdish-administered region commonly referred to as Rojava encompasses many of Syria’s most significant oil and gas fields and remains a vital agricultural hub. Any durable political settlement will need to ensure that these strategic resources are managed in a way that reduces militarization, supports local stability, and contributes to broader national recovery. Continued instability threatens to weaken regional energy corridors, undermine private-sector development, and erode energy security for the United States and its allies.

Years of sanctions, infrastructure neglect, and the recent regime transition have sharply reduced Syria’s overall energy output. Damage to production and transport networks has led to fuel shortages and expanded informal and illicit markets. In this context, uncertainty has empowered armed actors and transformed energy infrastructure into a point of leverage, distorting local markets and increasing the risk of renewed instability.

The energy corridor passing through northeastern Syria carries wider strategic significance due to its proximity to the Iraq–Turkey pipeline system operating from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). This linkage reinforces US and allied influence in a region where Russian and Iranian involvement remains strong. US companies are also active operators in nearby energy fields, meaning that prolonged instability in Syria could negatively affect American investment and broader economic interests. Against this backdrop, the president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, has emerged as a constructive regional actor whose diplomatic engagement could help reduce tensions and encourage pragmatic dialogue.

Nechirvan Barzani’s Role in Syria’s Stabilization

Since before 2019, Barzani has maintained close working relationships with Turkish and Gulf leaders, as well as European and American partners. His sustained engagement with Baghdad has helped stabilize Iraqi-Kurdish relations and strengthen the institutional foundations of Kurdish autonomy within Iraq. Drawing on this experience as a trusted diplomatic interlocutor, Barzani could play a valuable facilitative role in encouraging dialogue that accounts for Syrian Kurdish concerns while supporting broader regional stability. Recent developments, including Damascus’s recognition of Kurdish as a national language, were welcomed by Barzani as positive signals toward national inclusion, alongside his consistent emphasis on minority protections. While negotiations involving the SDF continue to evolve, Barzani’s influence could help ease tensions and support confidence-building measures between local actors and the Syrian state.

By reducing the risk of conflict spillover along the Syria–Iraq–Turkey triangle, Barzani’s diplomatic engagement also limits opportunities for external actors to exploit instability. This contributes to regional economic resilience and aligns with long-term US national security objectives. A sustained and constructive US relationship with Barzani may further reduce the need for future American military involvement, shifting the focus of energy security from deterrence toward diplomacy that is localized, deliberate, and culturally grounded.

How the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Supports US Energy Security

The KRI provides a practical and credible platform for such mediation efforts. Its evolving relationship with Baghdad has produced a comparatively predictable governance environment that supports existing energy production and export infrastructure, while offering potential for future growth. Despite its landlocked geography, the region occupies a strategic position at the intersection of multiple regional interests. As a stabilizing buffer, a Barzani-led KRI can help prevent further fragmentation in Syria and protect the integrity of regional energy systems.

The Trump administration has emphasized the pursuit of peace initiatives that deliver tangible economic and energy security benefits. Syria should be approached with the same pragmatism. With the involvement of experienced regional leaders such as Nechirvan Barzani, the United States can support stabilization efforts that respect local dynamics while safeguarding its strategic interests. The SDF’s recent ceasefire represents one step in a longer process. As US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack has noted, both Washington and Damascus seek to “drive forward, quickly, with investment, development, and the worldwide branding of a new, welcoming Syria, without sanctions.” With careful diplomacy and credible regional partners, the United States retains the tools needed to advance stability in Syria while bringing its military role to a close.

About the Author: Dr. Ruwayda Mustafah

Dr. Ruwayda Mustafah is a writer and analyst specializing in Kurdish affairs, with a focus on the political, social, and security dynamics shaping Kurdish communities across Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the wider Middle East. She holds a law degree from Kingston University and a master’s degree in political communication, advocacy, and campaigning. Her doctoral research examined state-building processes and the role of referendums in contested political environments.

She is currently based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Her work explores issues of governance, minority rights, conflict resolution, and regional diplomacy, offering a nuanced analysis of the evolving role of Kurdish actors in regional and international politics.

Image: The White House/wikimedia commons

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