Syria pitches overland corridor as Hormuz alternative for energy.
Trump Calls Syria’s Hormuz Alternative Plan ‘GREAT!’ Amid Iran War
US President Donald Trump has welcomed a proposal from Syria to position itself as an alternative transit route to the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, as tensions continue to rise amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
Reacting to a recent media report on Thursday, Trump described Syria’s proposal in a brief but emphatic response: “GREAT!”
The development comes at a particularly sensitive moment for global energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important maritime routes for oil and gas shipments, and the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran has raised concerns about the security and reliability of the waterway.
Syria looks toward an overland alternativeAccording to a report by The Washington Post , Syria’s push to become an alternative energy and trade corridor began in April, when trucks were used in a trial run between refineries in southern Iraq and the Syrian port of Baniyas on the Mediterranean coast.
The idea gained momentum after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering a conflict that has now entered its sixth month. As tensions escalated, Tehran tightened its control over maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Syria, under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is now attempting to make use of its Mediterranean coastline and its geographic connection to European markets. Officials are presenting the country as a possible overland route for transporting energy and other goods, giving exporters another option beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
Interest in the proposal has reportedly extended beyond Syria, with foreign governments and major energy companies examining its potential.
The Trump administration has also backed a Chevron-led pipeline project that is expected to connect Iraq’s Basra region with Baniyas. The proposed pipeline could eventually carry around 2 million barrels of crude oil per day.
However, the project is far from an immediate replacement for tanker traffic through Hormuz. Construction is expected to take at least two and a half years, while the proposed pipeline would stretch roughly 1,000 miles and cost about $5.7 billion.
Security remains a major concernDespite its potential, the proposed route faces serious security and political challenges.
Sharaa’s government has not yet established complete control over all of Syria, while sleeper cells continue to carry out periodic attacks. The proposed pipeline would also have to pass through western Iraq, adding another layer of security concerns.
Still, Syrian officials appear determined to move forward. Ahmad Qubbaji, deputy chief executive of the state-owned Syrian Petroleum Corporation, said a formal agreement is expected in September, according to The Washington Post .
Other Gulf energy exporters could also see value in the proposed corridor. Energy analyst Mohamad Ahmad of Karam Shaar Advisory suggested that Kuwait and Bahrain could potentially explore connections to the route. Saudi Arabia may also be interested as it continues to face challenges in moving oil through alternative corridors.
For Syria, the proposal could mean more than simply creating another pipeline. It could offer the country a chance to strengthen its position as a regional trade and energy hub while reconnecting itself with wider international markets.
Trump called Syria’s proposal “GREAT!”
Syria is promoting Baniyas as an alternative energy gateway.
A proposed Basra-Baniyas pipeline could carry 2 million barrels of crude oil per day .
The pipeline would stretch about 1,000 miles .
Construction could take at least 2.5 years .
Security risks remain a major obstacle in Syria and western Iraq.
Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia could potentially benefit from the alternative route.