ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday congratulated Iraq on its National Day, welcoming the country’s strides toward strengthening its sovereignty.

“On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Iraq on their National Day on October 3,” Rubio said in a statement.

The secretary hailed the Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s July visit to Washington, adding that his meeting with President Donald Trump “reaffirmed the close friendship between our two nations and our shared commitment to a strong and prosperous future,” he added.

Zaidi made a five-day visit to Washington in late-July, where he met with senior US officials, including President Trump, and oversaw the signing of numerous agreements.

“The historic economic partnerships announced during the visit further demonstrate the tremendous potential for cooperation between American and Iraqi businesses,” Rubio said.

Under Zaidi’s government, Baghdad has also led a renewed drive to disarm militias and restrict weapons to state control.

Zaidi’s government had initially set September 30 as the deadline for armed groups to hand over their weapons, but later shifted to a phased process extending into 2027 after several groups rejected the deadline.

Multiple pro-Iran factions rejected the notion of handing arms to the state, leading Baghdad to seek other mechanisms to regulate the factions’ weapons in a manner that would be acceptable to the groups.

The initial September 30 deadline for the militias to hand over weapons to the state coincided with the deadline set for the withdrawal of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).

“We also welcome Iraq’s efforts to strengthen its sovereignty and contribute to security and stability across the region,” Rubio emphasized.

On Wednesday, the US-led coalition completed its withdrawal from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The withdrawal was a key demand of several political forces and many Iran-backed Iraqi militias, with the armed groups saying the coalition had to leave before they could consider disarming.

The US Defense Department also affirmed its commitment to “continue to provide targeted training and intelligence support to our Iraqi partners.”