The Road Through Damascus
In early April, a convoy of 299 Iraqi fuel tankers crossed into Syria, marking the first legal Iraqi oil transit through Syria since 2003. By late July, over 2.1 million metric tons of Iraqi fuel had moved to the Syrian coast, and by August 2025, up to 327,000 trucks carrying over seven million tons of cargo crossed into Syria. The World Bank estimated Syria's reconstruction would cost $216 billion, nearly ten times its projected 2024 GDP.
Why it matters: This shift positions Syria as a transit hub amid regional turmoil, aligning with the theme of 'geoeconomic realignment' as countries seek alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.