Syria Deepens Economic Ties With Neighboring States

Syria's relations with neighboring countries are gradually shifting from political ties toward broader economic and security partnerships, covering industry, energy, banking, trade, investment, transport and telecommunications.

Partnership With Jordan

Syria and Jordan announced the development of their relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership, with a Supreme Coordination Council formed in April 2025. Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said bilateral trade has tripled to reach 330 million dollars.

• A gas agreement and activation of a reciprocal trade mechanism
• Syrian investors' entry through the Jaber crossing
• Signing of an updated air services agreement
• Launch of a joint digital platform for Yarmouk basin water
• Tenders opened for repairing the electrical interconnection line
• A trilateral digital connectivity agreement and the launch of the "Darb Al-Safa" project
• Efforts to revive the Hejaz railway line

The third session of the Supreme Coordination Council is scheduled to be held in Damascus next month, following a preparatory meeting between deputy ministers of energy, transport, economy, industry, telecommunications and agriculture, along with investment, ports and aviation authorities from both sides.

Cooperation With Iraq

A meeting between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Iraq's Prime Minister, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, addressed strengthening security coordination and expanding economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

An earlier visit by Iraq's Foreign Minister to Damascus in July led to an agreement to form a joint committee covering energy, agriculture, water, transport and border crossings. Iraqi oil exports via the Syrian coast remain a key feature of economic cooperation, with efforts underway to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline with a capacity of up to two million barrels per day, while current daily exports through Syria are limited to around 1,500 trucks.

Several land crossings between the two countries have also been reactivated, namely Yarubiyah-Rabia, Al-Tanf-Al-Waleed and Al-Bukamal-Al-Qaim, to boost transit and trade traffic.

Opening Toward Lebanon

On July 2, 2026, the two countries announced the establishment of a joint Lebanese-Syrian committee aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and developing cooperation and coordination across various fields.

Developments included a judicial agreement signed between the two countries in February 2026 that facilitated the transfer of hundreds of detained Syrians from Lebanon's Roumieh prison to their home country.

The economic dimension was reflected in the Syrian-Lebanese Investment Forum 2026, held on September 23 in Beirut, with participation from the ministers of economy and industry, tourism, health and agriculture, along with the heads of the investment and civil aviation authorities.

Summary

These developments reflect an accelerating trend toward deeper regional economic integration for Syria, through opening markets to trade and investment and developing transport, energy and telecommunications networks with neighboring states.