Trump: Syria presents itself as alternative to Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said today that Syria is promoting itself as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as "fantastic."

Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform, commenting on a Washington Post report that discussed Damascus's efforts to capitalize on the Strait of Hormuz crisis and turn it into an economic opportunity.

The report indicated that the disruption of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz during the war could represent an opportunity for Syria, which is seeking to benefit from the need for alternative routes to transport oil and energy.

According to the report, Syria, more than 18 months after the fall of the Ba'athist regime, is preparing to capitalize on the lifting of international sanctions. Leveraging its location on the Mediterranean Sea and the port of Banias, it aims to position itself as a relatively stable land corridor for energy and goods transport, offering an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

Trucks have already begun transporting oil between refineries in southern Iraq and the port of Banias, as part of trials by Iraqi oil exporters to bypass the strait after shipping traffic through it ceased.

ANHA