Trump Envoy to Syria Faces Criticism for Pro-Turkish Stance and Golan Comments

Tensions between Israel and Donald Trump's envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrett, have escalated beyond Jerusalem, drawing sharp criticism from within Trump's own circle. Barrett has been accused of repeatedly adopting positions closely aligned with Ankara, sometimes contradicting President Trump's declared policies. The dispute intensified after Barrett stated in an interview that Israel "still occupies the Golan," contradicting the 2019 U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a move signed by Trump himself.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned Barrett's remarks as "full of inaccuracies" and inconsistent with Trump's stance. Conservative activist Laura Loomer, a close Trump ally, also called for Barrett's resignation, accusing him of misunderstanding U.S. foreign policy and consistently siding with "bad actors." Loomer highlighted Turkey's attempts to deploy advanced Russian air defense systems in Syrian bases, a move confirmed by sources and seen as a potential threat to Israeli air operations.

Barrett, however, portrayed the Syrian government under President Ahmad al-Shara as non-aggressive and claimed Turkey seeks no military conflict with Israel. He described Israel's strike on the Abu al-Duhur base in Syria as an "unnecessary escalation," noting Turkey was not warned and could have responded militarily, risking a direct clash between Israel and a NATO member. Analysts have described Barrett as acting independently from the State Department, with some suggesting he appears more aligned with Turkish President Erdogan than Washington.

This dispute reflects a broader strategic struggle: Turkey has become a key ally of the Syrian regime, assisting in military training and infrastructure rebuilding, while Israel fears a permanent Turkish military presence could alter the balance of power and restrict Israeli air freedom, crucial for operations against Iran. Barrett emphasized that Turkey does not intend to control Syria and quoted Erdogan expressing a desire for a sovereign and independent Syria.

The discord includes rare communications between Israeli Mossad chief Roman Gofman and Syrian Foreign Minister days before the Israeli strike. Barrett's public disagreements with Israel and accusations of pro-Turkish bias contrast with Trump's official policies, which have not reversed the 2019 Golan recognition. This divergence raises questions about the coherence of U.S. policy in the region under Trump's administration.