The foreign policy leadership of President Donald Trump, and the strategic execution by Secretary Marco Rubio and Ambassador Tom Barrack, has fundamentally redefined the American role in the Middle East. For years, the Washington establishment warned that leaving Syria would be a disaster, handing the keys to Iran and triggering an ISIS comeback.
But the Trump administration’s approach has been proven correct. By prioritizing stability and sovereignty over open-ended nation-building, the United States has built a framework that needs to be built upon and expanded, not rolled back. To truly honor the America First commitment to ending "endless wars," we have to recognize that Syria is no longer the vacuum it was a decade ago. It is a landscape where the President’s pragmatic strategy is delivering.
In recent months, Syria has shown a remarkable degree of stability, a direct result of pressure and precision of the current administration. Unlike the early years of the conflict, the country is no longer functioning as a simple conduit for Iranian expansion or a staging ground for chaos. One of the most critical wins is that the flow of weapons through Syrian territory to Hezbollah has been significantly curtailed. This isn't just a fluke.
It reflects a shift toward strategic alignment and accountability. Syria is moving away from being a source of regional instability and toward becoming a partner in restoring balance. Its integration into counterterrorism efforts, including coordinated operations against ISIS, marks a turning point that proves regional players can and should lead their own security efforts under American guidance.
These developments are a direct result of a deliberate U.S. policy aimed at ending prolonged conflict while locking in strategic gains. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States has supported a framework that puts sovereignty first.
We’re even seeing the difficult work of internal reconciliation begin, including moves to integrate Kurdish forces into state institutions, something the "experts" in Washington said was impossible. Ambassador Tom Barrack has been particularly instrumental in advancing this results-driven strategy, recognizing that we have a real opportunity to conclude our mission in a way that safeguards our wins without falling into the traps of past, weak withdrawals.
Ambassador Barrack has correctly argued that American credibility isn't measured by how many years we spend in a conflict zone, but by our strength to finish the job and leave on our own terms. Syria today presents a historic opportunity: a pathway to transition out of a long-standing conflict with our objectives achieved, regional threats contained, and our credibility intact.
The solution isn't to return to the failed status quo or to roll back the progress this administration has secured. Instead, we must lean into the Trump administration’s success. By doubling down on the Trump-Barrack framework, we can support a stable, sovereign Syria and allow America to exit not in retreat, but as a victor with its head held high.
About the Author: Tarek Kteleh is the founder of the Syrian American Alliance for Peace and Prosperity. A physician and advocate, he works at the intersection of diplomacy and regional stability to promote a sovereign Syria and a pragmatic U.S. foreign policy.
