The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Sunday that the US ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, will continue to serve as his special envoy for Syria and will also assume, from now on, responsibility for Iraq.
The one-year assignment that Barrack held as special representative for Syria concluded at midnight on Friday but, satisfied with his performance, Trump has decided to renew his confidence and extend his mission for another 12 months.
"He has done an exceptional job," Trump stressed about his envoy, who has established himself as his main interlocutor with Syrian authorities led by former jihadist leader Ahmed al Shara, in the midst of a complex transition marked by violence following the fall of Bashar al Assad's regime in December 2024.
With the incorporation of Iraq into his responsibilities, Barrack will also become Trump's main channel of communication in discussions with the new Executive of this strategic country, where pro-Iranian militias operate, practically integrated into state security forces, and which Washington perceives as a serious threat to its interests in the region.
The efforts made so far to dismantle these armed formations have not been successful, given the reiterated fear by Iraqi authorities that any attempt to impose their disarmament, considered absolutely essential structures, could break the country's fragile internal balance.
"As we advance in our strategic cooperation with the Governments of Syria and Iraq, our relationship with them will continue to strengthen," Trump stated before confirming that Barrack will continue as ambassador to Turkey and will have the full support of the United States Department of State.