When billionaire-turned-diplomat Tom Barrack arrived in Ankara in May as US President Donald Trump’s ambassador to Turkey, he delivered an unexpectedly emotional speech.
“I think it’s a really monumental day for me, feeling the echo of this land from which my ancestors came,” he said.
“But I come with a really simple message from President Trump: his desire to raise the level of the alliance between Turkey and the United States to where it rightfully belongs.”
Two months later, Turkish officials are convinced that Barrack is among the most influential US ambassadors ever to serve in the country.
His ever-expanding portfolio, now encompassing both Syria and Lebanon, aligns with Ankara’s priorities, such as preserving a unified Syrian state under President Ahmed al-Sharaa with a single military.
