Turkey and Qatar Rise as Key U.S. Allies in Post-Assad Middle East Order

Turkey and Qatar have become central figures in U.S. President Donald Trump’s new Middle East strategy, particularly in post-conflict Syria, where both nations are actively shaping reconstruction efforts and securing their influence across the region. Their growing involvement comes as Washington seeks to scale back direct intervention and empower regional partners to take the lead.

In Syria, Turkish military power and Qatari financial resources are fueling major infrastructure and energy projects, including a $7 billion U.S.-backed energy agreement signed in May. This deal includes the construction of four gas power plants and one solar facility, led by Qatar’s UCC Energy and Construction company, to address Syria’s crippling energy shortages.

“Trump is leaning on Ankara and Doha to handle the heavy lifting in Syria,” said a senior Arab official to Middle East Eye (MEE). “He’s focused on China, Iran, and Ukraine—and wants out of Middle Eastern nation-building.”

Assad Falls, Sharaa Rises, and New Alliances Form

The geopolitical equation shifted dramatically with the fall of Bashar al-Assad, toppled by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in a rapid offensive. Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, now leads a government receiving support from both Turkey and Qatar, along with increasing recognition from the U.S.

Qatar resumed gas deliveries to Syria via Jordan in March, while Turkey is reportedly engaged in defense pact discussions with Damascus, even as Israeli airstrikes continue. Both nations have strong historic ties to Syrian opposition groups.

Trump’s Vision: A Local-Led Post-Interventionist Strategy

At the signing ceremony in Damascus, U.S. Syria envoy Thomas Barrack praised the “alignment” of Turkey, Qatar, and the U.S. in the effort to rebuild Syria. He presented Syria as the model for Trump’s anti-Sykes-Picot vision, a reordering of the region away from colonial legacies and toward regional-led development.

“We won’t repeat the mistake of Sykes-Picot,” Barrack declared on X, referencing the 1916 British-French treaty that divided Ottoman Syria.

U.S.-Turkey Relations Strengthen on Syria and Security

While tensions marked U.S.-Turkey relations during the Biden era—especially over the U.S. partnership with the Kurdish-led SDF, which Turkey considers an arm of the PKK—Trump’s administration has embraced Ankara’s national security concerns.

“You can’t stabilize Syria without addressing the PKK,” said Bassam Barabandi, former Syrian diplomat.
“The U.S. must cooperate with Turkey or face another war,” he warned.

The Trump administration plans to downsize U.S. military presence in Syria, reducing its eight bases to one in the northeast. This shift comes as Washington views Turkey and Qatar as increasingly reliable allies.

Regional Realignment: Turkey and Qatar vs. UAE and Egypt

The influence of Turkey and Qatar stands in contrast to UAE’s deepening regional struggles. While Ankara and Doha build economic and political partnerships in Syria and beyond, the UAE finds itself entangled in Sudan’s civil war, backing the RSF against Turkish-, Egyptian-, and Iranian-supported forces.

Meanwhile, Egypt-UAE relations have deteriorated, with the Emiratis lobbying against Cairo’s stalled economic reforms in Washington. UAE’s public support for controversial Trump-backed proposals—such as the forcible resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza—has unnerved Egyptian military leaders.

Libya, another flashpoint, reflects this realignment. Saddam Haftar, son of UAE-backed warlord Khalifa Haftar, has recently courted Doha and Ankara, signaling Tripoli’s growing alignment with Turkey and Qatar. Eastern Libya’s parliament is now considering a maritime agreement favored by Turkey, further evidence of shifting alliances.

Economic Symbiosis Between Ankara and Doha

The Turkey-Qatar alliance has matured significantly since the 2011 Arab Spring, when both countries supported pro-democracy movements. Their ties deepened during the 2017 Saudi-led blockade of Qatar, which Turkey opposed by sending military support and economic aid.

While Turkey brings military capacity, Qatar offers energy wealth and capital, creating a mutually reinforcing partnership that the U.S. now sees as vital to its regional disengagement strategy.