US ambassador to Turkiye: Rethinking US role in the Middle East
Tom Barrack says Washington's relationship with the Middle East needs to change from one of control to one of support.
In a wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera, the United States ambassador to Turkiye, Tom Barrack, has argued that Washington must fundamentally rethink its relationship with the Middle East — shifting from a posture of control to one of support.
Barrack, who also serves as special presidential envoy for Syria and Iraq, told the programme that the United States no longer seeks to dominate the region, and that countries there should not depend on Washington to solve their problems.
The 27-minute interview, published on Thursday, touched on some of the region's most volatile flashpoints. Barrack declined to say whether the war in Iran was a mistake, but acknowledged the instability it had caused, and said President Donald Trump opposes what he called 'forever wars'. He added, however, that he feared growing tensions could lead to miscalculation.
Trust is in short supply, Barrack conceded: a lack of confidence between Washington and Tehran is hampering talks, he said. He also admitted that years of American involvement in the region demonstrate the limits of intervention and regime-change efforts.
The remarks come as the Trump administration navigates a crowded Middle East agenda, from the aftermath of the war in Iran to the fragile situations in Syria and Iraq — files in which Barrack, in his dual role as ambassador and special envoy, sits at the centre of US policy.
Source: Al Jazeera English — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.