Trump Points to Syria Oil Shipments as Alternative to Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that there are alternative routes to the Strait of Hormuz, citing oil shipments through Syria as one option. The remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil supplies, but shipping disruptions due to the US-Israeli war with Iran have led to a search for alternative routes. Trump pointed out that many oil pipelines are being built in the Middle East.

A report by The Washington Post highlighted Syria's growing role as an alternative energy and trade corridor, noting that about 5,000 oil-laden trucks transit daily from southern Iraq through Syrian territory toward the Mediterranean port of Baniyas. This development began in April as a limited trial by Iraqi oil exporters seeking to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

The Trump administration has expressed support for a Chevron-led pipeline project designed to transport up to 2 million barrels of crude oil per day from Basra in southern Iraq to Baniyas. The proposed pipeline would extend approximately 1,000 miles and cost an estimated $5.7 billion, with construction expected to take at least two and a half years.