ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Tom Barrack will serve as Special Presidential Envoy to both Syria and Iraq, expanding his diplomatic role in Washington’s Middle East policy while he continues to serve as ambassador to Turkey.
"I am pleased to announce that United States Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, who has done an outstanding job, will be named Special Presidential Envoy to Syria and, likewise, Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq, as we advance our strategic cooperation with the Governments of Syria and Iraq," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Our relationship with them continues to grow!" he added.
Trump said Barrack would remain ambassador to Turkey while carrying out the new responsibilities "with the full backing of the United States Department of State."
"We greatly appreciate the work that Tom Barrack has done, and his continued willingness to serve our Country," Trump said.
The announcement comes a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled that Barrack would continue to play a leading role in Washington's regional policy despite the expiration of his tenure as special envoy for Syria.
"Ambassador Tom Barrack has played an invaluable role as our Special Envoy to Syria," Rubio wrote on X on Saturday.
"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," Rubio added.
Barrack's role in Iraq and Syria
Barrack was appointed US ambassador to Turkey and assumed the additional role of special envoy for Syria in May 2025, 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 emerged as one of the most influential US officials involved in Syria and Iraq. He has facilitated dialogue between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and played a significant role in efforts that led to a January agreement outlining the integration of military and civilian institutions in northeast Syria (Rojava) into the Syrian state.
The envoy has also been involved in diplomacy concerning Iraq. In March, Barrack told Rudaw he helped ease tensions between Baghdad and Erbil during negotiations to restart oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.
"I was like the barista serving coffee, bringing temperatures down and logic back together," Barrack said at the time.
His comments came amid efforts to resolve a dispute that halted Kurdistan Region oil exports through Turkey in March 2023. In March this year, Baghdad and Erbil reached an agreement to export Kirkuk oil through the Kurdistan Region's pipeline network to Turkey.
Washington-Baghdad relations
Trump's announcement also came as Iraq and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
According to a statement from Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's office on Sunday, the premier met with US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Joshua Harris to discuss expanding cooperation in economic, investment, and cultural fields.
The statement said both sides stressed the importance of continuing joint work under the Strategic Framework Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnership and coordination on bilateral and regional issues.
The two sides also emphasized "advancing dialogue and diplomacy, rather than war and aggression, in resolving disputes and imposing security and stability in the region," according to the statement.
For his part, Harris expressed Washington's appreciation for Iraq's efforts to strengthen bilateral partnerships and praised Baghdad's role in promoting regional security and stability, the statement added.