Israel and Syria have entered “meaningful” negotiations mediated by the United States to reduce hostilities along their shared border, according to U.S. envoy Thomas J. Barrack Jr. The discussions, part of President Donald Trump’s broader Middle East strategy, aim to lay the groundwork for Syria’s potential inclusion in the Abraham Accords while focusing on economic incentives over political reform.

U.S. Strategy: Power First, Prosperity Later

Barrack, Trump’s ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, told The New York Times that Washington’s approach abandons “failed” nation-building efforts in favor of pragmatic power politics. The administration, he said, is leveraging America’s military strength—demonstrated in last month’s strikes on Iran—to push for stability and economic partnerships.

Trump’s priority, Barrack emphasized, is securing business deals in sectors like arms and artificial intelligence, and fostering regional prosperity through trade rather than political engineering. The administration hopes this will pave the way for durable peace and cooperation in the Middle East.

Syria’s Balancing Act

Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, is reportedly open to rapprochement but wary of domestic backlash. Barrack acknowledged that al-Shara “cannot be seen by his own people to be forced or coerced into the Abraham Accords,” and must proceed cautiously.

Trump recently signed an executive order lifting long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria, a move intended to encourage goodwill and gradual policy shifts in Damascus. Key expectations include a peace arrangement with Israel, reintegration of U.S.-backed Kurdish militias, and progress on cases of missing Americans.

Regional Dynamics and Hezbollah Challenge

Beyond Syria, Barrack is pressing Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah through a mix of military measures and economic incentives funded by Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The U.S. plan envisions the Lebanese army conducting house-to-house weapons searches, with reconstruction aid aimed at winning over Shiite communities traditionally aligned with Hezbollah.

Barrack conceded that securing such disarmament and broader regional peace will require a delicate balance of “carrots and sticks” and could face significant local resistance.