Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, expressed confidence on Friday that unresolved issues between Washington and Ankara could be resolved within four to six months, describing the relationship as strong and stable.
Speaking at a Milken Institute conference in the UAE, Barrack highlighted the close personal rapport between U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing it as an “exceptional bond” that has shaped the countries’ partnership.
He underscored Türkiye’s strategic role as NATO’s second-largest ally after the European Union and criticised Europe for not seriously considering Türkiye’s accession prospects.
On Israel, Barrack said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not pursue a “Greater Israel” agenda, adding that the country faces multiple pressures. He argued that prosperity and trade, rather than military ambition, are the key to achieving stability.
Defence and sanctions
Barrack discussed the U.S. sanctions imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and long-running disputes over F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, noting that the debate has stretched over a decade. He explained that President Trump viewed the sanctions as counterproductive and acknowledged Türkiye’s defence production capabilities, including drone exports to Ukraine.
Although the U.S. has not delivered fighter jets to Türkiye, Barrack noted that Ankara has purchased Eurofighter Typhoons and remains an important participant in the F-35 programme. Türkiye’s four F-35 jets are currently in a hangar, unavailable for operational use.
He criticised short-term U.S. political cycles, pointing out that American elections occur every two years, while strategic rivals such as China and Russia plan decades ahead. “Long-term planning and technological advantage are now essential in geopolitics,” he said.
NATO and regional security
Addressing tensions within NATO, Barrack described the situation as “madness,” noting that Europe expects Türkiye to help defend the continent while simultaneously resisting Ankara acquiring advanced weapons over concerns about Russia.
He recalled a White House meeting between Trump and Erdoğan, during which six key defence issues were discussed, most of which were resolved, including matters concerning the S-400 missile system.
Barrack expressed confidence that the remaining issues could be settled within four to six months.
He also highlighted Türkiye’s role in countering Syria’s Assad regime and noted U.S. support for the new Syrian administration. He emphasised that future energy corridors linking Türkiye with Syria and Azerbaijan would offer major strategic benefits.
Referring to the Türkiye–U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) agreement, Barrack said LNG has become increasingly important. On the South Caucasus, he expressed hope that ongoing peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia could lead to the eventual reopening of the Türkiye–Armenia border, signalling renewed regional connectivity and stability.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 1st of August, covering the latest developments.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Saturday he would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran's nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen's Houthi-run maritime coordination body on Saturday denied reports that it planned to charge commercial ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It said no such decision had been made and that passage through the strategic waterway remains free.
Wildfires driven by strong winds spread across several parts of Greece on Saturday, including areas near Athens. Large-scale firefighting efforts and emergency evacuations were underway as wildfire conditions also deteriorated in parts of Spain and France.
Hungary is facing five critical days as record-low water levels in the Danube force the country’s only nuclear power plant to shut down for the first time in more than four decades, Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on Sunday.
The death toll from the migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has risen to 72, while more than 48,300 migrants have returned to Morocco, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported Sunday.
Wildfires burning across more than 250,000 acres (around 1,011 square kilometres) in Washington state have prompted evacuations and widespread power outages, with officials warning that high winds and extreme heat are making firefighting efforts more difficult.
Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least two people and damaged targets in regions along Russia’s Volga River overnight, Russian regional officials said on Sunday, 2 August.
Iraq and Türkiye have signed a one-year agreement to transport and load Iraqi crude oil through the Iraq–Türkiye pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, Iraq’s Oil Ministry said.
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