US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack has played a key role in US policy in the Middle East over the past year. Last year, he was appointed the special envoy for Syria, and he helped shape US support for the new government of Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Sharaa was introduced to US President Donald Trump in 2025, when Trump decided that the US would embrace Damascus. As such, Barrack was handed a key role to help make this happen.
He has been critiqued by some, particularly backers of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led group that defeated ISIS.
Whereas Barrack has backed integration of the SDF into the new Damascus security forces, some SDF supporters prefer that the Kurdish-led region in eastern Syria remain autonomous.
Barrack has also begun to play an increasing role in US policy in Iraq and around the region.
“Ambassador Tom Barrack has played an invaluable role as our Special Envoy to Syria,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on May 30.
The US wants to see both countries prosper
“While that title is expiring, he will continue to play a leading role for the Trump Administration in both Syria and Iraq, where his expertise, relationships, and understanding of the America First agenda will continue to deliver wins on behalf of our great country,” he added.
There was speculation that this meant Barrack was returning to being focused on Turkey as ambassador.
On May 31, Trump appointed Barrack as special envoy for Iraq in addition to his role as special envoy for Syria. The appointment will increase and extend his regional role.
Barrack has done an outstanding job, Trump said, adding that he would continue to work on strategic cooperation with Syria and Iraq.
This is important to the US because these are two key countries where it has played a role. The US intervened to help fight ISIS in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
In Iraq, the US’s partners were the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government. In Syria, its partner force was the SDF. The US wants to see both countries prosper.
In Iraq, the challenge is rolling back and reining in Iranian-backed militias. Baghdad has shown some willingness under new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to attempt to rein in the militias.
In the recent war, however, it appears that the militias have carried out nearly 1,000 attacks against US forces, the Kurdistan Region, and other countries.
Therefore, Barrack will have his hand full to stabilize Iraq and also continue to see success in Syria.
In Iraq, a researcher said the decision to “merge the Iraq and Syria files under the supervision of a single envoy reflects a fundamental shift in the American strategy toward the region,” Baghdad-based news agency Shafaq News reported.
“This trend represents a shift from the American approach that has prevailed since 2003, which focused on democracy and development, to a regional approach that views Iraq from the perspective of regional balances, with the aim of reducing Iranian influence and redirecting the geopolitical course of the two countries in a way that serves American interests,” the report said.
Barrack's role clearly growing
Some observers said Rubio’s statement had indicated that Barrack’s role might be ending or reduced, but Trump’s announcement makes it clear that his role is growing.
This comes as the US continues to try to work toward an Iran deal. Turkey is a key NATO member that has remained outside the clashes with Iran. Barrack likely would like to see the same trend in Syria and Iraq, essentially stabilizing these US partners as much as possible.
This could also help with Lebanon because Hezbollah has, in the past, sought weapons from the Iraqi militias that are backed by Iran. Reducing Iran’s role is now possible.