United States Ambassador to Turkiye and envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, has formally walked back comments he made last week regarding the status of the Golan Heights. In a statement provided to The Associated Press on Sunday, Barrack clarified that the official American position remains unchanged, maintaining that the policy established by President Donald Trump in 2019 regarding Israeli sovereignty over the territory stands.
The controversy began during a Friday interview with podcaster Mario Nawfal, where Barrack appeared to break with established US policy. When discussing potential Israeli territorial ambitions in Lebanon, the envoy contrasted the situation with the Golan, stating, “In the Golan with Syria, they still occupy the Golan against the UN resolutions, against all of the international order, which has said the Golan is Syria’s.”
Israel seized the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and subsequently annexed the region in 1981. For decades, the international community largely viewed the territory as occupied land, and no nation formally recognized Israeli sovereignty there until the Trump administration shifted the US stance in 2019. This move drew significant global criticism, with legal experts warning it undermined the long-standing international prohibition against the acquisition of territory by force.
Following his recent remarks, Barrack faced immediate pressure from prominent supporters of the administration’s foreign policy. Far-right commentator Laura Loomer publicly demanded his resignation, citing a perceived lack of understanding regarding US diplomatic objectives. She shared the 2019 presidential proclamation as evidence of the established policy.
Republican Senator Rick Scott also weighed in, criticizing the ambassador for failing to uphold the administration’s agenda. In a social media post, Scott provided a copy of the 2019 executive order, asserting that the former president had been clear about Israel’s sovereignty over the region for years.
Beyond the Golan issue, Barrack had already drawn scrutiny for his recent opposition to Israeli airstrikes on a Syrian airbase. During the same interview with Nawfal, the envoy suggested that those military actions were intended to provoke Turkiye, which maintains an alliance with the Syrian government.
Barrack characterized the strikes as a potential political maneuver, stating, “One theory is they were just baiting Turkiye, and it’s a very aggressive, but maybe well-received pre-election concept,” referencing the upcoming US midterm elections in November.
While the US remains the primary backer of the Israeli claim, the policy has seen limited international adoption, with Colombia’s right-wing government being one of the few nations to recently align with Washington’s position. Despite the change in presidential administrations, the policy on the Golan remained in place throughout the four-year term of former President Joe Biden. The report also notes that the recognition sparked an international outcry. The report also notes that barrack was asked whether Israel has plans to annex parts of southern Lebanon.
