26.09.2025 11:31
The words of the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, sparked significant controversy. In an interview, Barrack stated, "There is no such thing as the Middle East. There are tribes and villages. Nation-states were created by the British and the French in 1916."
The U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, known for his striking statements regarding Middle Eastern policies, once again used expressions that shook the region.
"THERE ARE TRIBES AND VILLAGES"
In an interview with Hiba Nasr, a correspondent for the Saudi news agency Asharq News in Washington, Barrack stated, "There is no such thing as the Middle East. There are tribes and villages," emphasizing the traditional structure of the region.
'FAMILY, VILLAGE, TRIBE...'
Barrack, referring to the Sykes-Picot Agreement, added, "Nation-states were established in 1916 by the British and the French through Sykes-Picot. However, the Middle East does not operate that way." Explaining the region's social dynamics through the hierarchy of individual, family, village, tribe, community, religion, and nation, Barrack stated, "It starts with the individual, then comes the family, village, tribe, community, religion, and finally the nation."
NOT SAYING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME
In a previous speech, Barrack expressed similar views, telling Hadley Gamble on National News' "On the Record" program, "When we talk about peace, we are actually talking about an illusion. There has never been peace in the Middle East. There probably won't be because everyone is fighting for their own legitimacy."