Kurdish leaders in Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government continue to prioritize internal cabinet formation, Peshmerga unification, and implementation of the federal constitution to address budget and authority disputes with Baghdad. Recent statements from figures including Nechirvan Barzani and Qubad Talabani emphasize coordination with the federal government, avoidance of regional conflicts such as Iranian drone strikes on opposition camps, and stability following the U.S.-led coalition’s withdrawal in late September 2026. Commemoration of the 2017 independence referendum remains symbolic rather than indicative of new action. These developments sustain trader consensus that a formal declaration of independence by December 31, 2026, faces substantial structural, diplomatic, and political barriers.