Tom Barrack Named US Special Envoy for Syria Amid Trump’s Sanctions Relief Plan

In a bold move signaling a shift in U.S. foreign policy, Tom Barrack, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and a former confidant of President Donald Trump, has been appointed as the Special Envoy for Syria. Announced on Friday, Barrack’s new role comes alongside a significant policy pivot: the U.S. is easing long-standing sanctions on Syria to bolster the country’s stabilization efforts following the ousting of the Bashar al-Assad regime by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in 2024.

Barrack, in a statement shared on X, emphasized his commitment to supporting Secretary of State Marco Rubio in advancing President Trump’s vision for a peaceful and prosperous Middle East. He underscored that lifting sanctions, first imposed in 1979 when Syria was labeled a state sponsor of terrorism, is a strategic step to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS while giving Syrians a chance to rebuild. This decision aligns with Trump’s call for Syria to join the Abraham Accords and normalize ties with Israel, a diplomatic carrot tied to sanctions relief.

The backdrop is complex. Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, now leading Syria, is a U.S.- and U.N.-designated terrorist group that broke ties with al Qaeda in 2016. Meanwhile, 1,500 U.S. troops remain in Syria to combat ISIS, with 10,000 ISIS fighters detained by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Barrack highlighted the collaborative efforts with regional players like Türkiye and Gulf nations to restore stability, echoing Trump’s mantra of collective success.

This diplomatic thaw, marked by U.S. diplomats visiting Damascus for the first time in over a decade, signals cautious optimism. Yet, the path forward is fraught with challenges as the U.S. navigates partnerships with controversial actors to secure a stable Syria.