ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Kurdistan Region’s top leaders on Tuesday extended congratulatory messages to Friedrich Merz on his election as Germany’s new chancellor, expressing wishes for an enhanced partnership between Erbil and Berlin.

Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was elected as the new chancellor of Germany after scoring an absolute majority in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday.

In a post on X, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani congratulated Merz on his new role as the leader of Europe’s biggest economy.

"I’m confident your leadership will open new opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the Kurdistan Region and Germany," wrote the Kurdish premier.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani also sent out a congratulatory message, wishing Merz success in his new role.

“The Kurdistan Region values its close partnership with Germany and looks forward to strengthening our cooperation,” he wrote on X.

Germany has been a key member of the global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS), providing decisive military support to the Iraqi and Kurdish forces since 2014. Berlin has military bases in Erbil and Baghdad. German troops are also in Iraq as part of NATO’s mission.

In October 2024, the German parliament approved extending the country’s military mission in Iraq for an additional 15 months, continuing through January 31, 2026.