U.S. – TURKEY – SYRIA: TRUMP REPORTEDLY ASKED ERDOĞAN WHY TURKEY DIDN’T TAKE CONTROL OF SYRIA
U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack has reportedly revealed that President Donald Trump once asked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a striking question about Ankara’s role in Syria:
“Why didn’t you just take control of Syria?”
According to Barrack, the exchange took place during a conversation between Trump and Erdoğan. The U.S. president reportedly questioned why Türkiye had not simply assumed control over Syria given Ankara’s significant military and political influence in the country.
Erdoğan reportedly rejected the idea, telling Trump that Türkiye did not want to take control of Syria. Instead, according to Barrack’s account, Ankara wanted Syria to remain “sovereign and independent.”
Barrack made the remarks during an interview yesterday, offering a notable insight into how Trump views Türkiye’s growing influence in Syria.
Türkiye has maintained a significant military presence in northern Syria for years and has repeatedly emphasized that its objectives include protecting its security interests, combating threats along its border, and supporting Syria’s territorial integrity.
The reported exchange highlights the increasingly important role Türkiye plays in Syria’s future and the very different approaches Washington and Ankara may have toward the country’s political and security order.