Iraqi PM makes first Syria visit since Assad's fall to discuss oil and trade ties

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has arrived in Damascus for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in what is being described as the first visit by an Iraqi prime minister to Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The meeting comes as the two neighbours seek to rebuild bilateral ties after years of upheaval and to expand cooperation in energy, trade and agriculture. The visit also places renewed attention on the Baniyas route, which both sides see as central to future Iraqi oil exports through Syria.

According to the Iraqi News Agency, the leaders discussed exporting Iraqi oil through the Baniyas line, increasing trade volumes and expanding joint work in the agricultural sector. The agency said al-Zaidi also spoke about broader partnership, including economic and social cooperation, security coordination and efforts to align positions on regional and international issues. Al-Sharaa, for his part, expressed appreciation for the visit and said Syria wanted the highest possible level of cooperation with Iraq.

The oil issue is especially significant because Iraq has recently begun exporting limited quantities of oil through Syria following the outbreak of the US-led war on Iran, according to the report. Last July, the two countries signed agreements to revive the Haditha-Baniyas pipeline, along with a memorandum of understanding with a consortium of three companies, including Chevron, to implement the project. That makes the Damascus talks part of a wider effort to restore a long-dormant energy corridor and deepen economic links between the two states.

The visit also carries political weight because it is the first by an Iraqi prime minister to Syria since Assad's removal, marking a notable shift in the regional relationship. Iraq and Syria share a long border and have historically been linked by trade, security concerns and cross-border economic ties. Any revival of the pipeline would have implications not only for oil transport but also for regional integration, given the emphasis both sides placed on food security, agricultural development and stability.

The two leaders had already met in New York last September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where they discussed political and security coordination as well as economic and trade cooperation. That earlier contact suggests the Damascus meeting is part of a gradual diplomatic thaw rather than a one-off encounter. It also indicates that both governments are trying to turn political engagement into practical agreements on energy and commerce.

What remains unclear is how quickly the pipeline project can move forward, how much oil could eventually flow through Syria, and what technical or political obstacles may still stand in the way. The report does not give a timetable for implementation or detail the next steps after the Damascus talks. For now, the visit signals an effort by both capitals to convert a symbolic diplomatic moment into concrete economic cooperation.

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