US Envoy Confident Unresolved Issues with Türkiye to Be Settled

US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, expressed confidence on Friday that outstanding issues between Washington and Ankara could be resolved within four to six months, calling the bilateral relationship "strong and stable."

Speaking at a Milken Institute conference in the UAE, the envoy highlighted the close relationship between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing it as an exceptional bond that helped shape the partnership, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

He stressed Türkiye’s position as NATO’s second-largest ally after the EU, adding that despite this, Europe has not seriously considered its accession to the bloc.

On the Israeli side, he claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not pursue the idea of a “Greater Israel” and argued that Israel is under pressure from multiple directions.

Such a vision could only be realized through trade and prosperity, rather than military ambition, he said.

Addressing US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and the long-standing F-16 and F-35 disputes, the official said the debate has stretched for a decade.

He noted that Trump viewed the sanctions as pointless and was aware of Türkiye’s defense production capabilities and its drone exports to Ukraine.

While the US has not delivered fighter jets to Türkiye, he pointed out that Türkiye has purchased Eurofighter Typhoons and remains a vital participant in the F-35 program.

He highlighted that Türkiye’s four F-35 jets are sitting in a hangar but remain inaccessible.

He criticized short-term American political cycles, pointing out that the US holds elections every two years while global rivals such as China and Russia think in terms of 50 or 100 years.

He warned that long-term planning and technological advantage were now essential in geopolitics.