Washington, Sept. 3 (SANA) U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed a Washington Post report highlighting Syria’s growing role as an alternative energy and trade corridor in the Middle East as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
Trump reposted the report on his Truth Social platform Thursday, commenting: “This is GREAT!”
The report pointed to Syria’s increasing importance as an overland route for transporting oil from the Gulf and Iraq to the Mediterranean, providing energy exporters with additional options amid disruptions to traditional shipping routes.
The newspaper said Syria has experienced a significant shift in its regional position since Syria’s liberation, positioning itself as a potential energy and trade corridor in the Middle East. About 5,000 oil-laden trucks transit daily from southern Iraq through Syrian territory toward the Mediterranean port of Baniyas.
The shipments began in April as a limited experiment by Iraqi oil exporters seeking a route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz before expanding into a large-scale daily operation.
The Syrian government is seeking to consolidate Syria’s position as an overland corridor linking the Gulf to the Mediterranean, making use of its geographic location and the port of Baniyas as a gateway toward European markets.
The effort has begun attracting interest from foreign governments and international energy companies seeking more diversified routes less exposed to disruptions affecting traditional shipping lanes.
Basra-Baniyas pipeline
In July, the Trump administration expressed its support for a Chevron-led pipeline project designed to transport 2 million barrels of crude oil per day from Basra in southern Iraq to Baniyas.
The proposed pipeline would extend about 1,000 miles and cost an estimated $5.7 billion. Construction is expected to take at least two and a half years.
The project could provide oil-exporting countries additional options to expand their export routes and reduce risks exposed by the war, although it could not fully replace maritime shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The search for alternative Gulf routes has gained further importance amid Houthi threats to shipping in the Red Sea, increasing the significance of routes connecting the Gulf to the Mediterranean through Syria.
Transport and railway agreements
Syria’s efforts to consolidate its position as a regional transit hub extend beyond the energy sector.
Syria has signed agreements with Türkiye and Saudi Arabia to rehabilitate a railway connecting Europe with the Red Sea through Syrian territory, providing an alternative route to the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal.
Syria has reached agreements with Iraq to facilitate the movement of goods from the Gulf toward Europe through Syrian territory, expanding its role in regional transport and trade networks.
Infrastructure challenges
The report nevertheless identified infrastructure challenges accompanying the opportunities created by Syria’s geographic position.
Vital facilities, pumping stations and oil infrastructure still require rehabilitation and investment to improve their operational capacity.
Roads and areas along the transport corridors require further rehabilitation and stronger safety measures to improve freight efficiency and reduce accidents.
A/Dh
