U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Tom Barrack will serve as Special Presidential Envoy to both Syria and Iraq. The decision expands Barrack’s responsibilities in the region while reinforcing U.S.-Iraq strategic cooperation. At the same time, Barrack will continue serving as the United States ambassador to Turkey.
Trump shared the announcement on Truth Social and highlighted Barrack’s role in advancing American interests across the Middle East. According to the president, Barrack has performed strongly as ambassador to Turkey and will now take on additional duties related to Syria and Iraq. Trump also stressed that Barrack will carry out the expanded role with the full support of the U.S. State Department.
Furthermore, Trump said relations between Washington, Baghdad, and Damascus continue to develop. He expressed confidence in Barrack’s ability to strengthen diplomatic engagement and support ongoing regional initiatives.
The announcement followed comments from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio a day earlier. Rubio indicated that Barrack would remain a key figure in the administration’s Middle East policy despite the end of his previous term as special envoy to Syria.
Rubio praised Barrack’s work and emphasized his experience in the region. He also stated that Barrack would continue contributing to American efforts in both Syria and Iraq. According to Rubio, Barrack’s relationships and regional knowledge remain valuable assets for the administration.
Barrack first became ambassador to Turkey in May 2025. Soon afterward, he also assumed the role of special envoy to Syria. His appointment came shortly after Trump announced plans to lift sanctions on Syria and met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh.
Over the past year, Barrack has become one of the most prominent American diplomats working on regional issues. In Syria, he helped facilitate discussions between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Additionally, he supported efforts that led to a January agreement aimed at integrating military and civilian institutions in northeast Syria into the national framework.
Meanwhile, Barrack also became involved in several issues concerning Iraq. Earlier this year, he revealed that he helped reduce tensions between Baghdad and Erbil during negotiations aimed at resuming oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.
Those discussions played an important role in efforts to resolve a long-running dispute over oil exports. The disagreement had halted exports through Turkey since March 2023. However, Baghdad and Erbil later reached an agreement to export Kirkuk oil through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline network to Turkey.
The latest appointment arrives as U.S.-Iraq strategic cooperation continues to gain momentum. On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Joshua Harris to discuss expanding cooperation across several sectors.
According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, both sides explored opportunities in economic, investment, and cultural fields. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the Strategic Framework Agreement.
Moreover, Iraqi and American officials emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional challenges. They stressed that cooperation remains essential for promoting stability and security throughout the region.
Harris welcomed Iraq’s efforts to strengthen partnerships and highlighted Baghdad’s contribution to regional stability. As diplomatic engagement deepens, U.S.-Iraq strategic cooperation is expected to remain a central pillar of relations between the two countries.
