Tom Barrack, Trump's pick for Turkey ambassador, is good news for Erdogan
The US billionaire's close ties with the president-elect and a portfolio in dealmaking could provide room for improvement in Ankara-Washington ties, according to experts.
ANKARA — US billionaire Thomas Barrack, whom President-elect Donald Trump has tapped as the next US ambassador to Turkey, will likely appeal to Ankara, experts believe.
“I am pleased to announce that Tom Barrack will serve as our next ambassador to Turkey,” Trump announced on Truth Social on Tuesday. “He is a well-respected and experienced voice of reason to a wide range of thought leaders in both political and business circles.”
While Barrack, 77, lacks traditional diplomatic and political experience, he has deep business and political connections, particularly in the Gulf and the Middle East. The billionaire of Lebanese descent is fluent in Arabic. During Trump’s first presidency, despite not having any official role, he stood out as having sway in relationships between the president and Middle Eastern and Gulf countries.
He was reportedly influential in shifting Trump’s position in a 2017 crisis between Qatar and a Saudi Arabia-led bloc to diplomatically isolate Doha over its support for the Muslim Brotherhood, which other Gulf monarchies see as a national security threat. Trump in June 2017 openly sided with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries confronting Qatar.
