Key facts
- Turkey and Saudi Arabia are promoting a land trade corridor linking the Gulf to Europe via Syria and Jordan.
- The proposed route would bypass Israel and compete with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
- Israeli officials reportedly view the initiative as a challenge to IMEC.
- The project aims to reduce reliance on Israeli infrastructure, including the port of Haifa.
- A trilateral memorandum of understanding on transport cooperation was signed by Turkey, Syria, and Jordan.
- The corridor is expected to connect to Saudi rail networks and could reduce transport costs and times.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia are advancing plans for an overland trade and transport corridor that would link the Gulf region to Europe, passing through Syria and Jordan. This initiative, reported by Israeli media, is seen as a direct competitor to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a project backed by Israel and its international partners.
The proposed route would allow goods to travel between Asia and Europe via Syrian and Jordanian territory before reaching Turkey, thereby reducing reliance on Israeli infrastructure, including the port of Haifa. Israeli officials reportedly view this development as a significant challenge to IMEC, which was envisioned as a modern Silk Road connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe.
Earlier this year, Turkey, Syria, and Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding on transport cooperation, aiming to restore the historic Ottoman Hejaz Railway. Turkish officials have indicated that the network is expected to take four to five years to complete and will connect to Saudi Arabia's rail system. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has confirmed active discussions with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states regarding the revival of this regional corridor.
Analysts estimate the new route could cut transport costs by 20% to 30% and reduce shipping times from 15 days to approximately 6 days. The geopolitical logic behind the project includes avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, a contested waterway. Saudi Arabia's formal involvement would effectively render IMEC redundant, potentially impacting the economic incentives for Saudi-Israeli normalization.