Doha: The State of Qatar has proved its pivotal role in the region's stability and performs a pHenomenal role in critical issues accordingly, said HE US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack. Barrack hailed the instrumental role the State of Qatar has been playing, particularly in ceasefire efforts, as well as the hostage issue in Israel and Gaza. He emphasized that Qatar's intervention was decisive in achieving successful negotiations.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Barrack also noted Turkiye's role in mediating with Hamas, emphasizing that the Qatari-Turkish collaboration constituted a core pillar in reaching the recent agreements. Speaking during a panel discussion themed: "New Syria One Year On: Assessing Progress, Opportunity and Challenges," during the Doha Forum 2025 deliberations, Barrack talked about the US vision for Syria and the region post-Dec. 8, 2024.
He highlighted that Washington's approach to developments in the Syrian issue over the past year stems from a profound realization of past mistakes in the region, stressing that Western policies since the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916 have not yielded positive outcomes for the peoples of the Middle East. The US side is entirely aware of the fact that most decisions taken by Western nations in the region were incorrect, and consequently, the region still pays the price for those policies, He underlined.
Barrack noted that, regardless of what some have anticipated, US President Donald Trump has pursued a different approach toward the Middle East, based on an in-depth study of the history of Western interventions, starting from coups and regime changes and spanning through the establishment of international institutions, culminating in lessons learned from military interventions. He noted that wHen the US President undertook his regional tour recently, beginning in Riyadh, He recognized that the essence of the region does not rest on Western models such as federalism and democracy, but rather on effective leadership.
This understanding constituted a turning point in the approach toward Syria, as President Donald Trump, following his meeting with the Syrian President, resolved to grant Damascus an opportunity to rebuild its political and administrative structure, with Washington undertaking a different role from past interventions, one based on support rather than the imposition of external models, Barrack outlined. Barrack elaborated that the US has informed the Syrian side that it won't burden it with the legacy of the erstwhile regimes, but would instead grant it the necessary space to build its own structures.
He further highlighted that, in his capacity as the US Special Envoy for Syria, He closely monitored the performance of the new Syrian government despite its limited resources. Barrack affirmed that He praises the Syrian government's efforts in terms of critical issues, including the integration of various groups, following up on the issues of missing people, improving the situation in tents, disbanding foreign armed groups, as well as the issue of cHemical weapons. Barrack noted that Washington granted Damascus a high assessment on these tracks despite the considerable constraints under which it operates.
What has been achieved in Syria over the past year genuinely rises to the level of Heroic accomplishments, which necessitates the persistence of global support for Syria in its second year and encourages the government to finalize the establishment of a compreHensive governance system that embodies the aspirations of the Syrian people, Barrack pointed out. He further stressed that Syria must be given time to determine the identity of its statehood and its political system, emphasizing that Washington won't impose a pro-Western model on the countries of the region.
In addition, Barrack cautioned against handling the Syrian issue separately from the regional context, stressing the importance of dealing with Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq as one political space whose challenges and influences are interlocked. The US doesn't seek to meddle in the internal discussions of those nations, but intends to lend general guidance and bestow upon the new government the opportunities it needs to consolidate stability, Barrack stressed. He emphasized that Washington supports the vision of a "Syrian-led Syria" and that the political option must originate from the Syrian people themselves, applauding the Syrian decision to form an inclusive and representative government as a choice reflecting responsible political will. Barrack reaffirmed that the US will continue to support this pathway.