Barak: Sharm El-Sheikh Summit marks a turning point in the Middle East peace process
Barak: What began as a truce in Gaza has evolved into a new regional partnership
اضافة اعلان
Barak: Syria is the missing piece in the peace puzzle of the Levant
Barak: Lifting sanctions on Syria is a shift from punishment to partnership
Barak warns: Beirut’s hesitation to address Hezbollah’s arms could trigger unilateral Israeli action
Barak: New U.S. ambassador to Beirut arriving next month
Thomas Barak, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria, said the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit represented a historic turning point in the Middle East peace trajectory, noting that the leaders gathered there not only achieved a ceasefire in Gaza but also “adopted President Donald Trump’s 20-point vision for reconstruction and regional prosperity.”
In a post on X on Monday, Barak stated that what began as a truce in Gaza has evolved into “a new partnership in the Levant.” He emphasized that stability is no longer imposed by force but built upon shared opportunities, and that—for the first time in decades—Arab, Islamic, and Western nations have collectively condemned terrorism within the region.
Barak described Syria as the “missing piece in the peace mosaic,” calling for the repeal of the Caesar Act, which, he said, “fulfilled its moral purpose against the former regime but now suffocates a people striving to rebuild.”
He added that following the formation of its new government in December 2024, Syria “is no longer what it once was,” having restored relations with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Europe, and initiated border talks with Israel.
Barak noted that President Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria from Riyadh in May 2025, followed by an executive order in June, describing it as “a shift from punishment to partnership.”
He stressed that lifting sanctions “is not an act of charity but a strategy,” as it enables investment in infrastructure reconstruction, strengthens stability, and curbs extremism.
“Israel’s Northern Security”
On Lebanon, Barak said that Syria’s stability constitutes the first pillar of “Israel’s northern security,” while the second lies in disarming Hezbollah and launching border negotiations with Israel.
He explained that the 2024 cessation-of-hostilities agreement failed due to the absence of an enforcement mechanism and the continued Iranian funding of militants, leaving Lebanon in a state of “fragile calm without peace.”
Barak revealed that Washington had presented a “last-attempt plan” to gradually disarm Hezbollah in exchange for economic incentives, but the plan stalled due to the group’s influence within Lebanon’s government.
He warned that Beirut’s hesitation to act “could prompt unilateral Israeli action,” stressing that Hezbollah’s disarmament “is not merely an Israeli security demand but also an opportunity for Lebanon to regain its sovereignty and revive its economy.”
Barak also cautioned that Hezbollah might seek to postpone the 2026 elections under the pretext of national security if it comes under Israeli attack, warning that such a move “would trigger new political, sectarian, and institutional chaos.”
He further affirmed that President Trump’s 20-point plan lays the groundwork for expanding the Abraham Accords to include Levantine nations, adding that “Iran has grown weaker, and Saudi Arabia is nearing accession,” making regional integration “closer than ever.”
Concluding his remarks, Barak announced that Michel Issa, the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon, will arrive in Beirut next month to help address the country’s political challenges, affirming:
“This is Lebanon’s moment to act.”
