ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States ambassador to Turkey confirmed on Friday that he has assumed the additional role of special envoy for Syria with a focus on ensuring the enduring defeat of the Islamic State (ISIS).
“As President Trump’s representative in Türkiye, I am proud to assume the role of the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria and support Secretary Rubio in the realization of the President’s vision,” Tom Barrack said in a post on X.
“The cessation of sanctions against Syria will preserve the integrity of our primary objective - the enduring defeat of ISIS - and will give the people of Syria a chance for a better future. In this way, we, together with regional partners including Turkiye and the Gulf, are enabling the Syrian government to restore peace, security, and the hope of prosperity,” Barrack added.
US President Donald Trump, during a trip to the Middle East last week, announced his decision to lift sanctions on Syria. The next day, Trump met with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a summit in Riyadh, hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and attended remotely by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, expel all “foreign terrorists” from Syria, and cooperate with the US to prevent a resurgence of ISIS, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Since taking office in January after toppling the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the new leadership in Damascus has made lifting international sanctions a top priority. While several countries have expressed openness to removing Assad-era restrictions, they have emphasized the need for the new leadership to meet critical benchmarks such as inclusive governance and fighting terrorism.
The European Union on Tuesday officially decided to lift its economic sanctions on Syria, marking a major shift in its approach towards Damascus.
