Trump Endorses Iraq-Syria Oil Pipeline, Casting Doubt on Peace Railway

President Donald Trump has expressed enthusiasm for an oil pipeline project that would run from Basra in eastern Iraq to Baniyas on Syria's Mediterranean coast, potentially competing with a previously planned route through Israel. This shift in White House energy policy and regional priorities raises questions about America's commitment to infrastructure projects that directly benefit Israel and its partners.

The proposed pipeline is being advanced by Syrian authorities in partnership with American oil giant Chevron, which has already received endorsement from President Trump. The Syria route would provide an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical commercial corridor for global oil trade.

However, this development may signal that the administration views the 'Peace Railway' as a 'dead letter', given Saudi Arabia's refusal to allow any route passing through Israel unless a Palestinian state is established first. The pipeline project would directly compete with the planned rail corridor, which was designed to connect India, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia through Israel to the European Union.

It remains unclear whether this represents a separate project or an outright replacement of the Peace Railway, but it indicates a potential shift in regional policy under Trump's administration.