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The U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye has quietly assumed leadership of American diplomatic efforts in Syria, according to updated social media profiles and recent high-level meetings, marking a significant shift in how Washington approaches the post-Assad Middle East.
Thomas Barrack, who serves as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye, now lists himself as "head of the Syria Task Force" in his official Twitter biography, indicating an expanded mandate that reflects Türkiye's growing influence over Syrian affairs since Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December.
The dual appointment comes as the Trump administration moves to reshape U.S. policy toward Syria following the end of the country's 14-year civil war. Last week, President Donald Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, a landmark decision that clears the path for increased humanitarian aid and foreign investment in the war-torn nation.
Barrack, a private equity executive and longtime Trump advisor who chaired the president's 2016 inaugural committee, has been at the center of recent diplomatic activity. Since arriving in Ankara earlier this month, he has participated in multiple high-stakes meetings, including dining with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on his second evening in the capital.
The ambassador joined Secretary of State Marco Rubio for several crucial diplomatic encounters last week, including a meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shibani in Antalya, hosted by Türkiye's top diplomat. The trio also met with Turkish and Ukrainian government ministers ahead of direct ceasefire discussions between Ukraine and Russia—the first such talks in three years.
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