The United States is set to appoint Thomas Barrack, a longtime friend of President Donald Trump and the current U.S. ambassador to Turkey, as a special envoy for Syria, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
This move follows Trump’s recent announcement that U.S. sanctions on Syria would be lifted, signaling U.S. recognition of Turkey’s growing regional influence on Damascus since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December. This decision marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, indicating an effort to support Syria’s recovery after 14 years of civil war.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson declined to comment, saying, “There is no announcement at this time.”
During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that embassy staff, including Barrack, would assist Turkish officials in assessing the aid needs in Syria. Rubio emphasized the importance of helping Syria avoid further chaos and civil war, which would destabilize the broader region.
A U.S.-Turkish meeting focused on Syria took place on Tuesday in Washington, with Barrack in attendance. The discussions covered sanctions relief and efforts to combat terrorism, according to Turkey’s foreign ministry.
Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria follows discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The lifting of sanctions is intended to allow Syria to recover from the war, support humanitarian aid efforts, and encourage foreign investment and trade for the country’s reconstruction.