US President Donald Trump welcomed reports that Syria has pitched as a potential alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, calling the development “great”.
Sharing a report about Syria’s plans on social
media, Trump wrote, “This is GREAT! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP” before highlighting the development.
He then shared a report stating that “Syria is pitching itself as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.”
Syria Eyes On Gaining From Hormuz Disruption
Syria’s push comes as the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the ongoing conflict and disruption to regional energy supplies. The waterway is a major route for oil shipments, making alternative transport corridors increasingly important.
Under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria is seeking to use its location and Mediterranean access to develop an overland route connecting the Gulf region with Europe. Oil tankers are already travelling from southern Iraq towards Syria’s Mediterranean port of Baniyas, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Major Pipeline Plan In The Works
The proposal goes beyond road transport. The Trump administration has backed a planned pipeline from Basra in southern Iraq to Baniyas.
The proposed project could eventually transport up to 2 million barrels of crude oil a day. The pipeline is expected to cost around $5.7 billion and would stretch for roughly 1,000 miles. However, construction is expected to take at least two and a half years, meaning it cannot provide an immediate replacement for the shipping route through Hormuz, as per the outlet.
Trump’s special envoy, Tom Barrack, has previously said the pipeline could make the Strait of Hormuz “an afterthought.
