Former US Assistant Secretary David Schenker stated that President Trump’s foreign policy linked Iraq to his maximum pressure campaign against Iran. At the Erbil Forum, he noted that US support has benefitted the Kurdistan Region, including ongoing troop presence and financial aid for the Peshmerga forces.
On Thursday, David Schenker, a former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, asserted that President Donald Trump incorporated Iraq into his overarching maximum pressure strategy against Iran. Speaking during the second day of the 2025 Erbil Forum, Schenker highlighted that Washington’s approach has positively impacted the Kurdistan Region, particularly through sustained US support and the deployment of American troops in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Schenker also reaffirmed that the United States would continue its annual financial assistance of $20 million to the Peshmerga forces. While discussing the Trump administration’s perspective on Iraq, he remarked, “I don’t think Trump was particularly focused on Iraq, but he considered it part of his broader maximum pressure campaign against Iran.”
In summary, David Schenker’s remarks emphasize the strategic connection between US foreign policy towards Iraq and Iran under President Trump. The continued military and financial support for the Peshmerga reflects the United States’ commitment to stabilizing the Kurdistan Region amid wider geopolitical tensions involving Iran.
Original Source: shafaq.com
