US Appoints Ambassador Tom Barrack as Special Envoy to Syria Amid Push to Lift Sanctions

U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, announced Friday that he has officially taken on the role of Special Envoy for Syria, as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to lift sanctions on Damascus and reengage with the war-torn nation.

“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 realizing the President’s vision,” Barrack said in a public statement.

He emphasized that lifting sanctions will serve America’s strategic goal of ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS, while also giving the Syrian people a renewed chance at peace and prosperity.

“In this way, we, together with regional partners including Türkiye and the Gulf, are enabling the Syrian government to restore peace, security, and the hope of prosperity,” Barrack noted.
Quoting Trump, he added, “We will work together, and we will succeed together.”

Trump Moves to End Sanctions Following Regional Support

The announcement follows President Trump’s remarks last week at a Saudi investment forum, where he pledged to end what he called the “brutal and crippling” U.S. sanctions on Syria. Trump credited the decision to direct appeals from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A day later, Trump made headlines by meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh — marking the first meeting between U.S. and Syrian heads of state in 25 years.

Rubio: Sanctions Relief Aimed at Stabilizing Region

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a Senate hearing on Tuesday, reinforced the administration’s stance. He said that supporting the new Syrian government is essential to prevent a relapse into civil war and avoid a wider regional destabilization.

“We want to help that government succeed because the alternative is full-scale civil war and chaos, which would, of course, destabilize the entire region,” Rubio told lawmakers.