Trump Appoints Syria Envoy, Energy Deal Announced \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The U.S. raised its flag at the ambassador’s residence in Damascus for the first time since 2012, signaling deepening engagement with Syria’s new leadership. Ambassador Tom Barrack inaugurated the site and helped broker a major energy deal with Qatar and Turkey. Washington’s stance toward Syria is shifting as Trump lifts sanctions and seeks regional realignment.
Quick Looks
- U.S. flag raised at long-closed ambassador’s residence in Damascus.
- Tom Barrack named special envoy, meets Syrian President al-Sharaa.
- U.S.-Qatar-Turkey consortium to build 5,000-megawatt energy project.
- Over 50% of Syria’s electricity needs to be restored.
- U.S. signals warming ties with new Syrian leadership.
- Embassy remains closed, but symbolic gestures highlight diplomatic shift.
- Trump lifts Syria sanctions, citing potential for peace.
- U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Turkey back new approach.
Deep Look
For the first time in over a decade, the stars and stripes flew once again above the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Damascus on Thursday, marking a dramatic shift in American policy toward Syria. Though the U.S. Embassy itself remains closed, the flag-raising and visit by U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and newly appointed Syria envoy Tom Barrack represent a striking signal of renewed diplomatic engagement.
Barrack’s visit follows the installation of Syria’s new government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former leader of an Islamist group still designated a terrorist organization by Washington. Despite early hesitation, the Trump administration has moved swiftly in recent weeks to normalize relations with Damascus, encouraged by regional allies Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
According to Syrian state media SANA, Barrack met with al-Sharaa and participated in the signing of a multibillion-dollar energy development agreement involving a consortium of Qatari, Turkish, and American companies. The consortium — led by Qatar’s UCC Concession Investments alongside Power International USA, Turkey’s Kalyon GES Enerji Yatirimlari, and Cengiz Enerji — will construct four combined-cycle gas power plants totaling 4,000 megawatts and an additional 1,000-megawatt solar facility.
In a joint statement, UCC said the completed projects are projected to meet more than 50% of Syria’s current electricity needs — a major boost for a country whose infrastructure was devastated during more than a decade of civil war.
Speaking at the ceremonial launch of the deal, Barrack lauded the decision to lift long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria, declaring the move “bold” and “unconditional.” With American, Turkish, Qatari, and Syrian flags waving behind him, Barrack emphasized regional cooperation as the key to security and progress in the Middle East.
“There is only one simple expectation,” he said. “And that expectation sits behind me — the alignment of these amazing countries.”
While the U.S. has not yet reopened its diplomatic mission in Damascus — shuttered in 2012 amid the brutal crackdown by Bashar al-Assad’s regime — the flag-raising ceremony and presence of a U.S. envoy in the capital signal a profound shift. The Assad dynasty, long a pariah in the West, was officially ousted in December following a surprise rebel offensive. Now, Washington appears willing to work with the new leadership, prioritizing regional stability and economic rebuilding.
The Trump administration’s tone toward Syria has evolved rapidly. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump met unexpectedly with al-Sharaa in Riyadh, reportedly breaking the ice between the two governments. Soon after, the White House began rolling back decades-old sanctions targeting Syrian government officials, industries, and financial institutions.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Trump confirmed Barrack’s appointment as special envoy to Syria. “Tom understands there is great potential in working with Syria to stop Radicalism, improve Relations, and secure Peace in the Middle East,” Trump wrote. “Together, we will Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!”
Barrack responded with a statement of his own, also posted on X, thanking Trump for the opportunity. “Thank you for your bold vision,” he wrote, “empowering a historically rich region, long oppressed, to reclaim its destiny through self-determination.”
The energy deal is being celebrated as a symbol of that vision. Though major political differences remain, the collaboration on infrastructure projects points to a strategy rooted in economic partnership rather than military posturing. It also places the U.S. at the center of Syria’s post-war reconstruction — something other global powers, including Russia and Iran, had long sought to dominate.
While critics of the new policy argue that al-Sharaa’s Islamist roots warrant more scrutiny, proponents say the shift reflects realpolitik and a recognition that American interests are best served by engagement rather than isolation.
As the region recalibrates in the wake of shifting alliances and unresolved conflicts, the raising of the U.S. flag in Damascus — a potent visual symbol — may come to represent the beginning of a new chapter in America’s Middle East diplomacy.
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