US opens world’s largest US consulate in Kurdistan: Inside the new $800 million diplomatic complex

The United States opened on Wednesday its new consulate in Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq, marking the completion of what is now the largest American diplomatic facility anywhere in the world. The vast complex signals the depth of Washington’s intention to maintain a lasting presence despite shifting political landscapes across Iraq and the wider Middle East.
Its foundation stone was laid in July 2018 at a moment when US-Kurdish cooperation was at its peak following the four-year campaign against Islamic State. The investment reflects the importance Washington placed on its partnership with Erbil during that period and signals its intention to maintain that connection into the future.

The new facility occupies a 206,000-square-metre site on the Erbil-Shaqlawa road to the north-east of the city. Its scale was recognised early in its development when Robert Palladino, then the US Consul General to Erbil, remarked during a 2021 ceremony that it would be “big, really big”. Built over seven years at a cost of about $800 million, the compound is effectively a fortified micro-city with the capacity to host up to 1,000 people. It replaces the former consulate facility in the Ankawa district, where operations were split across several residential buildings. The new premises provide a purpose-built environment that permits US staff to work with far greater efficiency and security.

Inside the complex are administrative offices, residential accommodation for diplomats and employees, dedicated quarters for security teams and visiting personnel, retail spaces, parking facilities and landscaped areas. The design incorporates features that are particularly significant given the region’s chronic electricity shortages and worsening heatwaves. Solar panels provide roughly 15 per cent of the consulate’s power, and an advanced water-recycling system reduces demand on local supplies.

The opening ceremony was led by the US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Michael Rigas and was attended by Kurdish leaders and foreign diplomats. Rigas emphasised that the new consulate is more than a collection of buildings. He described it as a testament to the value of the relationship between the United States and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He noted that the US is proud of its deep and enduring ties with the Kurdish people and praised the region’s record as an effective and capable security partner and a trusted voice within Iraq and beyond. 

Kurdish leaders echoed this sentiment. The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, described the new consulate as a clear political message about the importance of Erbil and the wider region. He highlighted the depth of the US-Kurdish relationship, which spans over three decades and includes cooperation before and after the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the fall of Saddam Hussein and the fight against the Islamic State. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani characterised the imposing compound as rising like a mountain in Erbil and representing an unshakable symbol of the bond between the US and the people of Kurdistan and Iraq. 

The opening of the consulate comes during a period of political uncertainty in Iraq as leaders negotiate the formation of a new government. While the US continues to maintain a military presence in the region with troops operating from Kurdistan in support of operations against extremists in Syria, Washington has faced increasing pressure over the terms of that deployment. A previous agreement stipulated that American forces were to leave Iraq, although the timeline remains contested.

Security concerns also continue to shape US engagement. Rigas condemned a recent drone attack on the Khor Mor gas field, which caused a partial blackout across parts of the region. He urged both Baghdad and Erbil to cooperate to disempower and dismantle Iran-aligned militias, which he said engage in violent and destabilising actions that undermine Iraqi sovereignty. Washington has repeatedly pushed for the disarmament of these groups as a condition for improving relations with Baghdad.