Thomas Barrack, the US ambassador to Turkey and the envoy to Syria under President Donald Trump, mentioned recently that the US plans to significantly cut its military presence in Syria, reducing the number of military bases from eight to just one.
This move reflects a shift in US policy toward Syria, as Barrack noted that previous efforts “haven’t worked” over the last century.
During an interview with Turkish news channel NTN, he discussed various topics, including the conflict in Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, and Turkey’s relations with the US. When the interviewer inquired about current US policies in Syria, Barrack indicated, “Our current Syrian policies won’t resemble those of the past 100 years.”
He confirmed the impending reduction of US military bases across the Middle East.
“President Trump… did something remarkable. He decided to allow this new administration a chance. Nobody expected this outcome. Certainly, the cuts to our military bases are significant. We will eventually drop from eight bases to one,” he elaborated.
According to anonymous security sources reported by Reuters, military equipment had already been moved from eastern Deir ez-Zor and integrated into Hasakah State, with a plan to pull US troops out of Deir ez-Zor province.
The US State Department stated separately that military presence would be reduced “as needed,” adjusting depending on situations and operational requirements.
Last week, Barrack mentioned that for the first time since 2012, the US flag was flown at the American embassy in Damascus. This development came after President Trump met personally with Syrian interim president Ahmed Alshara during a visit to Saudi Arabia. At that time, Trump mentioned he would consider a “normalization” of relations with Syria and lifted sanctions imposed on Middle Eastern countries during the administration of the former dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Barrack suggested that Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism could be lifted after a six-month review by Congress. Currently, Syria is recognized alongside Cuba, North Korea, and Iran on the US list of designated state sponsors of terrorism due to actions taken by the Assad regime.
He remarked, “The intention is that by not imposing American culture on your culture, we should give this young government a chance without interference or demands,” addressing reporters in Damascus last week.
