US Syria Envoy Meets Interim President in Istanbul Amid Easing of Sanctions
In a statement following the meeting, Barrack said, “I reiterated the United States' support for the Syrian people after so many years of conflict and violence.”
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, who has recently assumed duties as the new Syria envoy, met with Syria’s interim president in Istanbul on Saturday, marking the first high-level contact following Washington’s move to ease sanctions on the war-torn country, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Tom Barrack, who now serves as the U.S. envoy for Syria, held talks with Syrian Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. In a statement following the meeting, Barrack said, “I reiterated the United States' support for the Syrian people after so many years of conflict and violence.” The meeting underscores a subtle yet significant shift in U.S. engagement with Syrian leadership amid evolving regional dynamics.
The rare diplomatic encounter comes on the heels of Washington’s decision to lift certain sanctions imposed on Syria—a move seen by analysts as part of broader efforts to encourage political dialogue and post-conflict reconstruction.
Turkish-Syrian Summit Signals Warming Ties
Earlier the same day, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a landmark summit in Istanbul, where both leaders pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation across a range of key sectors. According to Turkey’s state-run Anadolu News Agency, the high-level talks were held behind closed doors and focused on restoring diplomatic and economic ties after more than a decade of estrangement.
The leaders discussed plans to enhance collaboration in energy, defense, and transportation, signaling a significant thaw in relations between the two neighboring countries. The meeting marks one of the most concrete steps toward normalization since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
President Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye’s opposition to foreign military interventions in Syria, stating, “Israel’s occupation and aggression in Syria are unacceptable and Türkiye will continue to oppose it.”
In response, President al-Sharaa thanked Erdogan for Ankara’s steadfast support, particularly in lobbying for the easing of international sanctions. He described Türkiye’s role as “crucial” in pushing for Syria’s economic recovery and reintegration into the international community.
The back-to-back meetings in Istanbul come at a pivotal moment for Syria’s regional diplomacy. While the United States remains cautious in its Syria policy, the meeting between its envoy and the interim president reflects a tentative openness to dialogue, especially following regional efforts to reintegrate Damascus.
For Türkiye, mending ties with Syria serves both domestic and strategic goals—ranging from resolving security concerns near its southern border to preparing for the return of Syrian refugees and participating in post-war reconstruction.
These parallel engagements—between Syria and the U.S., and Syria and Türkiye—may set the tone for broader diplomatic recalibrations across the region, particularly as the focus shifts from conflict to reconstruction and normalization.
