U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack hailed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s historic visit to Washington this week as a “turning point in the strategic partnership” between the two countries, emphasizing that the repeal of the Caesar Act would be a key step toward Syria’s prosperity.
In a post on his X account, Barrack said: “This week marks a decisive turning point in the modern history of the Middle East—and in the remarkable transformation of Syria from isolation to partnership. I had the profound honor of accompanying Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House, where he became the first Syrian head of state ever to visit the United States since Syria gained its independence in 1946.”
He added: “President Trump on May 13th indicated he would remove all U.S. sanctions in order to give Syria a chance. In a warm and substantive meeting this week, President Donald J. Trump and President al-Sharaa reaffirmed a shared conviction: that the time has come to replace estrangement with engagement and to give Syria—and its people—a genuine chance at renewal.”
Barrack noted that the Oval Office meeting witnessed President al-Sharaa’s commitment to join the D-ISIS coalition. “This represents a historic shift for Syria, from a source of terrorism to a partner in counterterrorism, with a clear commitment to reconstruction and contributing to the stability of the entire region,” he said.
“Damascus will now actively assist in confronting and dismantling the remnants of ISIS, the IRGC, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist networks, standing as a committed partner in the global effort to secure peace,” Barrack added.
The U.S. envoy also highlighted a follow-on trilateral session involving Secretary Rubio, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. “During this session, we mapped the next phase of the U.S.–Turkish–Syrian framework: integrating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) into Syria’s new economic, defense, and civic structure, redefining Turkish-Syrian-Israeli relations, and advancing the alignment that underpins the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, as well as addressing various Lebanese border issues,” he explained.
Barrack emphasized that President Trump’s leadership is laying the foundation for a “security first, prosperity next” approach—a future defined not by the shadows and horrors of the past but by the promise and hope of a new future.
“The next step in truly giving Syria a chance is the full repeal of the Caesar Act,” he said.
He called upon Congress to “take this historic step,” stressing the progress that has already been made while urging a “strong final push to empower the new Syrian government to restart its economic engine and allow the Syrian people and their regional neighbors to not only survive but to thrive,” he concluded.
