US President Donald Trump has welcomed reports that Syria has pitched itself as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, calling the development "GREAT".
Trump shared a report about Syria's plans on social media and wrote, "This is GREAT! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP."
The proposal comes as the ongoing US-Iran conflict continues to disrupt regional energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a major route for oil shipments, prompting countries to look for alternative transport corridors.
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Under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria is looking to use its location and Mediterranean coast to establish an overland route connecting the Gulf region with Europe. Oil tankers are already travelling from southern Iraq to Syria's Mediterranean port of Baniyas, The Washington Post reported.
Pipeline Plan From Iraq To Syria
The plan also includes a proposed pipeline from Basra in southern Iraq to Baniyas. Backed by the Trump administration, the project could carry up to 2 million barrels of crude oil a day and is expected to cost around $5.7 billion. It would stretch for about 1,000 miles.
However, construction is expected to take at least two and a half years, meaning the pipeline would not offer an immediate alternative to the route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's special envoy, Tom Barrack, has previously said the project could make the Strait of Hormuz "an afterthought", the report added.
The country is also looking at road and railway projects that could improve connectivity between the Gulf and Europe.
Security And Infrastructure Challenges
The plans, however, face security and infrastructure challenges. The proposed pipeline would pass through areas where militant groups and Iran-backed forces are active, while Syria is still rebuilding after years of conflict.
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