United States Opens Largest Consulate in the World in Kurdistan Region

PUKMEDIA

The Opening Ceremony of the largest US Consulate, in the Kurdistan Region.

The United States has formally opened its new consulate complex in Erbil, marking a major step in the relationship between Washington and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The inauguration, held on 3 December 2025, was attended by a wide range of government and political figures from across the region, underscoring the scale and significance of the project—the largest US consulate anywhere in the world.

During a meeting with Michael Rigas, the US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani described the opening as a moment of great importance, symbolising the depth and strategic weight of ties between the United States and the Kurdistan Region. He noted that every city and district within Kurdistan remains open for further cooperation with Washington, particularly in matters relating to security, trade, economic development and cultural exchange.

Construction of the consulate began on 6 July 2018, when the foundation stone was laid by then-KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani alongside former US Ambassador Douglas Silliman. Built at a cost of $796.1 million, the compound will host staff from seven different US government departments and agencies, making it a major hub for American diplomatic, administrative and regional engagement in Iraq.

According to the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations, the Kurdistan Region currently hosts diplomatic missions and representative offices from 40 countries spanning Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Among them are 32 consulates and eight representation offices, 38 of which belong to UN member states. The Islamic Republic of Iran stands out as the only country to operate two consulates in the Region, having established offices in both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in 2007.



PUKMEDIA