US Envoy Walks Back Golan Heights Comments Contradicting Trump Policy

U.S. special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, walked back his comments on Sunday regarding the Golan Heights.

Two days prior, on Friday, Barrack had stated that Israel still occupies the Golan Heights in violation of UN resolutions. These remarks contradicted U.S. President Donald Trump's established position on the disputed territory. Barrack clarified his comments, explaining he was referring to the territory’s historical status. In a statement to The Associated Press, Barrack affirmed, "United States policy on the Golan was set by President Trump in 2019 and is unchanged," adding his remarks were not an endorsement of the United Nations’ position.

Israel captured the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War and extended sovereignty over it in 1981. UN Security Council resolution 497, passed shortly after the 1981 annexation, rejected it as null and void. Barrack's initial comments prompted Defense Minister Israel Katz to point out the contradiction with U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty. Katz described Barrack's remarks as riddled with inaccuracies and positions that contradict those of U.S. President Trump himself.

The comments also drew criticism in Washington, with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) suggesting Barrack had forgotten Trump’s recognition. On March 25, 2019, President Trump signed Proclamation 9852 recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the strategic plateau. On August 10, 2026, Colombia's Foreign Ministry recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, becoming the second country to officially endorse Jerusalem's claim.

Syria has never rescinded its claim to the Golan Heights, and the issue re-entered the spotlight after Ahmed al-Sharaa took power in December 2024. During recent negotiations in Jordan, the Syrian delegation requested to separate talks over the Golan Heights, prioritizing Israel's withdrawal from areas captured after December 2024.