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US Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack has described the Middle East’s geopolitical challenges as exceptionally difficult, pointing to the region’s history, geography and religious significance.

Speaking about current regional developments, Barrack said the region had been the destination of the prophets, contrasting it with other parts of the world.

“All the prophets were sent to this region. Not to the Caribbean, not to South America, not to North America, not to Australia, not to China.”

He argued that the persistence of conflicts and disputes demonstrated the scale of the challenge facing current policymakers.

“If even God couldn’t solve it, if even the prophets couldn’t solve it, the idea that we can solve it in the next year and a half is probably very slim.”

Barrack also praised Türkiye’s military capabilities, describing the Turkish Armed Forces as strong, well-equipped and experienced.

“The Turkish army is strong, brave, very well-equipped, and knows what it’s doing.”

The US ambassador highlighted Türkiye’s geographical and political position, describing it as a non-Arab Muslim country situated at the centre of a complex regional environment.

“Turkey is a non-Arab, central, extremely harmonious, polite, and inclusive Islamic country.”

He also pointed to Türkiye’s borders with eight countries and access to four seas, as well as its connections to Central Asia, the Caspian region and the Mediterranean.

According to Barrack, Türkiye’s geographical position can make the country appear threatening to neighbouring states, despite Ankara’s stated approach to regional affairs.

Barrack also recounted a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan concerning Türkiye’s role in the political transformation of Syria.

According to Barrack, Trump asked Erdoğan: “If you played such a decisive role in the change in Syria, why didn’t you take over Syria?”

Erdoğan reportedly responded that Türkiye had no intention of taking control of Syria and instead wanted the country to remain sovereign and independent.

“Because we don’t want that. We want Syria to continue to exist as a sovereign and independent country in the midst of this challenging geography.”