Russia backs revival of Syria-Iraq oil pipeline as new gateway to Europe
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – A press report published on Monday by the energy-focused website Oil Price revealed Russia’s support for extending the Iraqi oil pipeline to Syria as a new gateway for exports to Europe.
Iraq is seeking to revive the strategic pipeline linking the oil-rich city of Kirkuk with the Syrian port of Baniyas on the Mediterranean coast—a move aimed at securing a direct export route to European markets.
This development comes just months after the fall of the Syrian regime in December 2024, prompting Moscow to reposition its political and military influence in the region.
According to the report, the project has strong backing from Moscow, which sees it as a means of expanding its regional foothold. Russia has intensified coordination with both Iran and Iraq to revive this strategic energy corridor connecting the three countries to Syria’s coast.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov was the first senior foreign official to visit Damascus following the regime’s fall, signaling Moscow’s ongoing commitment to shaping Syria’s future.
An Iraqi delegation, headed by National Intelligence Service Chief Hamid al-Shatri, also visited Damascus recently, further confirming the coordination of regional efforts.
The dormant pipeline—approximately 850 kilometers long—was originally shut down in 2003 after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Although a 2010 agreement planned the construction of two new pipelines for transporting light and heavy crude along the same route, the project was never implemented.
A European security source told Oil Price that the initiative also enjoys Chinese support, aligning with Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative and its “Development Road” project that connects the port of Basra to southern Turkey.
The source added that Russia and China are pursuing a long-term strategy in the Middle East, seeking to capitalize on waning U.S. influence by leveraging regional allies—most notably Iraq—to achieve broader geopolitical and economic ambitions.