Washington, May 31: Tom Barrack, the U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, will step down following the formal conclusion of his tenure. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Barrack will continue to play a central diplomatic role in managing policies for Syria and Iraq.
Rubio stated on the social media platform X, “Ambassador Tom Barrack has been a key intermediary in Syria, and he remains a reliable hand in Iraq. He will continue to play a significant role, not only as our ambassador to Turkey but also in advancing strategic cooperation with the Syrian government and initiating work with the new government in Iraq.”
He emphasized that Barrack is an essential member of the President’s team, expressing full confidence in him and noting that he operates with the complete support of the State Department. His ongoing commitment to lead this effort is benefiting the American people.
In a previous post, Secretary Rubio remarked, “Ambassador Tom Barrack has played a valuable role as our Special Envoy in Syria, even as this title comes to an end. He will continue to play a pivotal role for the Trump administration in both Syria and Iraq, where his expertise, relationships, and understanding of the America First agenda will continue to yield victories for our great nation.”
Barrack, a billionaire real estate investor and long-time confidant of President Donald Trump, has served as the Special Envoy for Syria since May 2025. He is also functioning as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.
According to media reports, during his year-long tenure as the envoy to Syria, Barrack witnessed Washington’s tilt towards the Assad-backed administration of interim President Ahmed al-Shara. He significantly influenced U.S. policy by advocating for a relaxation of heavy economic sanctions on Damascus and coordinating operations against the Islamic State with regional allies, including Turkey and Gulf Arab nations.
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