U.S. Envoy: Ankara Meeting with Syrian President Signals New Chapter

Thomas Barrack, U.S. Presidential Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq, said a high-level meeting in Ankara on Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — attended by a bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen and including Senators Chris Coons, Mike Rounds, Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham and Representative Michael Turner — reflects Syria’s growing importance and momentum toward a stronger chapter in U.S.-Syria relations. In a post on X, Barrack described the engagement as historically significant and said it underscores mutual trust, converging strategic interests and a shared commitment to long-term regional stability.

The meeting coincided with President al-Sharaa’s arrival at Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport and the second day of the NATO Summit, where he was formally received by Turkish officials. Barrack framed the talks as part of routine high-level congressional engagement in U.S. foreign policy and stressed Syria’s central role in shaping the future direction of the Middle East amid rapid regional developments, as reported by SANA