Trump Expands Tom Barrack's Role: Special Presidential Envoy for Both Iraq and Syria

President Donald Trump formally expanded the mandate of Tom Barrack — previously Syria-only Special Presidential Envoy — to cover both Iraq and Syria simultaneously, while Barrack retains his concurrent role as US Ambassador to Turkey. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the expansion as Barrack's previous Syria-only envoy title expired on May 30. The dual Iraq-Syria mandate signals the Trump administration's intent to coordinate its Levant and Mesopotamian policy under a single diplomatic coordinator, particularly as Syria's reconstruction track intersects with US counter-ISIS operations across both countries, US troop presence in Iraq under the anti-ISIS coalition, and the US partnership with the SDF in northeast Syria. Barrack's expanded portfolio comes at a pivotal moment in US-Syria relations: the US lifted broad sanctions on Syria in May 2026, and Rubio met Syrian FM Asaad al-Shaibani in Antalya (May 15) to discuss normalization specifics. The Iraq dimension adds complexity: US-Iraq negotiations over timeline for the withdrawal of the US-led coalition remain active, and the Islamic State's insurgent capacity across both countries requires a coordinated response. Syria's Foreign Minister al-Shaibani welcomed the expanded appointment, noting the integrated regional approach provides Syria with a consistent US diplomatic interlocutor as it navigates reconstruction investment talks and security sector formalization.