US Ambassador to Ankara and Special Representative for Syria Tom Barrack made statements regarding Türkiye-Israel relations, military tension in Syria and US West Asia policy at the Global Security Forum held in Doha, the capital of Qatar.
Barrack said that he did not expect a direct military conflict between Türkiye and Israel, but that the increasing tension in the region could lead to dangerous consequences due to miscalculations.
Arguing that Israel will avoid getting into a real war with Turkey, Barrack said, "I believe that Israel is smart enough not to get into a real conflict with Türkiye."
Recalling Israel's attack on an air base in Syria near the Turkish border, Barrack stated that the operation could lead to a serious military crisis.
Barrack said that Türkiye and the USA were not informed in advance about the sending of Israeli warplanes to the region, and used the following statements:
"Turkey was not informed about the arrival of Israeli warplanes. We were not informed either. Türkiye could have sent its own warplanes very quickly and we could suddenly find ourselves in a completely different situation."
Barrack stated that neither country wants a direct conflict and said, "I don't think Israel wants this, and I know Türkiye doesn't want it either."
The US diplomat emphasized that regional tensions make communication mechanisms that will prevent unexpected military encounters more important.
"USA IS NO LONGER THE RULER OF THE WORLD"
In Barrack's statements, his assessments of the US role in West Asia also attracted attention.
Stating that the Washington administration tried to shape the domestic politics and administrations of the countries in the region in the past, Barrack said that this approach is now changing.
Recalling the US's past interventions in Libya, Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, Barrack argued that Washington should move away from its claim to solve regional problems alone.
"The USA is no longer the ruler of the world," Barrack said, adding that Washington will continue to stay in the region but does not aim to establish control over other countries.
Barrack explained the new approach with the following words:
"The point is not to control, it is not to leave the region. We will not leave."
Stating that the countries in the region are starting to see the limits of the US's intervention capacity, Barrack said, "Everyone is now saying, 'Okay, I can't trust America to solve all my problems.'"
HE CRITICISM PAST US MILITARY INTERVENTIONS
The US diplomat also questioned the consequences of Washington's military and political interventions to change governments in the past years.
Arguing that these initiatives could not provide the expected stability in many countries, Barrack said that the USA should learn from its past mistakes.
"Every time we try to intervene, to change a person or a regime, it turns out to be a mistake," Barrack said.
He refrained from giving a definitive answer to the question of whether the war waged by the USA and Israel against Iran was also a mistake.
"I don't know if this is a mistake or not," said Barrack, acknowledging that the conflict has had grave consequences throughout the region and described the current situation as "tragic".
CRISIS OF TRUST BETWEEN IRAN AND THE USA
Barrack stated that the United States wants to reach a peace agreement with Iran, but the deep distrust between the parties makes diplomatic initiatives difficult.
Stating that negotiations are continuing, especially to resolve the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Barrack drew attention to the mutual distrust between Washington and Tehran.
"America wants a peace agreement. What we have seen since the beginning of these talks and negotiations is a lack of trust," Barrack said and continued:
"The Revolutionary Guards do not trust the USA. The USA does not trust the Revolutionary Guards either."
Barrack emphasized that the parties should develop a solution that considers mutual interests instead of focusing only on their own demands.
Negotiations between Iran and the USA focus on topics such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz to safe passage, easing sanctions and ending regional conflicts.
"WE DON'T NEED TO START AGAIN"
Barrack also made evaluations about the possibility of reviving the agreement that was reached in Islamabad in June but could not be implemented later.
Arguing that there is no need to start negotiations from scratch, Barrack said, "We do not need to start over."
Stating that stopping the conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz could form the basis of a more comprehensive peace agreement, the US diplomat said that the possible agreement should include ending the attacks in the Strait and improving the economic conditions of the Iranian people.
Barrack stated that the diplomatic solution should not be limited only to reducing military tension and evaluated that "The only solution is prosperity."
Israel's attack on Abu Zuhur Air Base in Syria on August 18 increased concerns about a direct military confrontation between Türkiye and Israel.
The Washington administration had announced that it was taking initiatives to establish a military coordination mechanism between the parties in order to prevent similar incidents.
