A reading of the decision of the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports regarding the ban on the entry of Saudi and Egyptian trucks into Syria.

introduction:

In a new decision taken by the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria, it prohibits the entry of Saudi and Egyptian trucks into Syrian territory, limiting them to “transfer” operations at border crossings, effective Sunday, July 20. This decision came in response to the continued ban on Syrian trucks entering Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which the authority considered a violation of the principle of “reciprocity.” The authority’s public relations director, Mazen Alloush, explained that the decision was based on “just and long-standing” demands from Syrian truck drivers, who suffer from operational and customs obstacles in both countries.
The decision aims to promote the principle of parity in trade and land transport; improve the conditions of the Syrian transport sector, which has been negatively impacted by restrictions imposed on Syrian trucks in neighboring countries; and impose a minimum level of regional balance in dealing with the Syrian fleet, without harming trade relations. The decision coincided with the announcement of the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Syria and Turkey to reactivate road transport (transit) after a hiatus of more than ten years. This represents a strategic step towards repositioning Syria as a pivotal trade corridor between Asia and Europe.

News analysis:

The principle of reciprocity is a pillar of international relations. It applies when a country imposes unjustified restrictions on trade or movement, and the affected country responds in kind. In this case, Syria protests the ban on its trucks entering Saudi Arabia and Egypt and responds in kind.
Legally, the decision does not violate international agreements unless there are binding trade or customs agreements (such as a free trade or transit agreement), and the Syrian decision appears to be being exercised within the country’s commercial sovereignty.
The decision also represents an official response to the demands of the land transport sector and can be considered a form of legal protection for Syrian drivers who have complained of discrimination or obstacles abroad.
A short-term analysis of the news reveals:

• Transportation costs are likely to increase due to the “transfer” mechanism, whereby goods are transferred from Saudi and Egyptian trucks to Syrian ones at the crossings, increasing supply times and reducing efficiency.
• Trade volume with Saudi Arabia and Egypt will temporarily decline if the smooth flow of logistics is disrupted.
• Industries that rely on the direct import or export of materials via these trucks will be affected.
• In the medium and long term, we see:
• If the diplomatic and trade situation is not improved, Syrian traders may turn to alternative routes, such as activating transportation corridors with Turkey and Iraq, which could alter the land trade map in the region.
• This indicates a Syrian economic trend toward reshaping the principle of regional parity and negotiating through trade pressure tools.

Possible scenarios related to the Syrian authorities’ decision to ban the entry of Saudi and Egyptian trucks:
First: A legal approach:

The Syrian decision is based on the principle of reciprocity, a recognized principle in international law and sovereign trade policies. This principle is activated when a country imposes measures that restrict trade without justification or a binding agreement framework. There are currently no indications of effective bilateral or regional agreements obligating Damascus to allow the free entry of these trucks, making the Syrian decision legally within the scope of legitimate trade sovereignty.
At the same time, any escalatory response by Saudi Arabia or Egypt—whether by restricting Syrian shipments or imposing retaliatory measures—could expose these countries to regional criticism if there is no explicit legal justification for such action.

Second: An economic approach:

On the economic front, the direct ban on truck entry without the implementation of temporary alternatives places short-term pressure on supply chains and threatens the operational efficiency of the transportation and export sectors. The “transfer” mechanism at crossings imposes additional costs on shipping and clearance and lengthens supply times, impacting time-sensitive agricultural and food products. Conversely, the Syrian Ministry of Economy can leverage this decision within a strategic framework to activate alternative trade corridors with Iraq and Turkey and invest in rail transport and seaports, enhancing future negotiating capacity and reducing the logistical dependency of the two countries involved.

Third, response scenarios:

1. Mutual escalation, leading to a decline in trade, could exacerbate pressure on the private sectors in the three countries, with potential repercussions for cross-border investments.
2. Technical or ministerial renegotiation is the optimal path to de-escalating tensions, through operational coordination protocols that do not infringe upon sovereignty and respect the principle of parity.
3. Internationalizing the economic issue by resorting to regional or Arab institutions to document discrimination. This is a slow option, but it strengthens Syria’s legal leverage in the diplomatic context.
4. Restructuring trade routes by developing logistical alternatives and stable transit routes that relieve pressure on traditional points of contact.

Implications:
In an attempt to broaden the view of the decision, we will present its positive and negative implications and impacts. As for the positive impacts we see,

• Strengthening national sovereignty in managing intra-regional trade. The decision establishes the principle of reciprocity and demonstrates the Syrian government’s ability to use defensive political and economic tools to protect its interests.
• Responding to the demands of the Syrian transportation sector, as the decision came in the context of demands from Syrian drivers and companies, reflecting a form of institutional engagement with chronic grievances and contributing to raising the morale of workers in this vital sector.
• Redirecting trade towards new regional corridors. The decision could stimulate trade cooperation with countries such as Iraq or Turkey and accelerate the process of activating transit corridors instead of traditional crossings.
• Regional negotiating pressure. The decision could be used as a bargaining chip by Damascus to improve the entry conditions for its trucks into Saudi Arabia and Egypt, especially if coupled with balanced media positions and diplomatic correspondence.
• As for the negative effects we see:
• High transportation and customs clearance costs, and reliance on “transfer” increases the logistics process time and imposes additional costs on Syrian exporters and importers, particularly for agricultural or fresh goods. The potential for a decline in the volume of exports and imports. The restrictions could lead to a decline in trade with Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the short term, putting pressure on the foreign trade sector and affecting the availability of some commodities.
• Political tension or potential retaliation: If the decision is not accompanied by a wise negotiating approach, the countries concerned may respond with countermeasures that could harm Syrian imports or complicate bilateral economic relations.
• Pressure on the private sector: Syrian companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, may find themselves facing new operational challenges and be forced to change their business models without adequate preparation.

Conclusion and Recommendations Regarding the Decision to Regulate the Entry of Foreign Trucks:
It is essential that measures accompany the General Authority for Ports’ decision to ban the entry of Saudi and Egyptian trucks. Accordingly, we, at the Economic Office of the Syrian Future Movement, present our recommendations to the Ministry of Economy – Transport Regulatory Authority:
First: Proposed Measures to Mitigate the Negative Impact:

1. Expanding the capacity of transporting goods at the crossings by equipping the transport areas with appropriate infrastructure (cranes, temporary warehouses, electronic operating systems) to reduce waiting times and lower costs.
2. Launching a support fund for local transporters, providing financial and technical support to Syrian drivers and transport companies to overcome the burdens of shifting to freight transport, particularly with regard to maintenance and additional loading.
3. Concluding understandings with Iraq and Turkey to activate alternative corridors, through operational agreements that allow Syrian trucks to pass freely and facilitate clearance and registration processes, thus reducing reliance on the southern and western crossings.
4. Activating maritime transport and customs cooperation with ports by encouraging the use of the ports of Latakia, Tartous, and Al-Basel Port as alternative export and import points for trucks, especially in light of the difficulties of land routes.

Second: Recommendations to maximize political and negotiating gains:

• Formulate a balanced negotiating discourse by preparing a technical and legal file documenting the unequal treatment by the two parties involved (Saudi Arabia and Egypt), and present it within a professional negotiating framework that preserves commercial interests and national dignity.
• Launch a media awareness campaign to explain the decision to local and international public opinion as a sovereign measure to protect Syrian transporters, highlighting its positive impact on trade regulation and achieving justice.
• Open channels of informal trade dialogue with the private sector in both countries and communicate with chambers of commerce and transporters in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to create internal pressures that reinforce the need for a practical settlement that preserves the interests of all parties.Finally, amidst these political, economic, and security interactions witnessed in Syria, it is clear that the country is passing through a critical phase that requires a great deal of wisdom and strategic awareness from national actors. From Sweida, which seeks security and stability and is seeking a balance between state authority and local community partnership, to the government’s economic decisions aimed at re-establishing the rules of regional parity in the land transport sector, the features of a transformation are emerging that are not simply related to managing a temporary crisis, but also to redefining the relationship between the center and the periphery, and between the state and its citizens. Navigating this historic juncture requires rational discourse, sincere civil partnerships, and policies that establish a future in which equal citizenship rights are guaranteed, and resources and relationships are managed on the basis of transparency and justice. Restoring trust cannot be built through decisions alone, but rather through dialogue, genuine representation, and recognition of the uniqueness of each region as a partner, not a subordinate.Syria does not need to be governed by orders from above, nor for its destinies to be shaped by those outside its own people. Rather, it requires national movements that are as adept at listening as they are at building, and that are adept at reading the moment as they are at planning for the future. This is what reformist voices, local initiatives, and intellectual elites are striving to achieve, as they still see in this country what deserves to be saved.

the reviewer:

• Syria TV. (2025, July). Syria bans entry of Saudi and Egyptian trucks to achieve the principle of parity. Retrieved from: https://www.syria.tv.
• Alloush, Mazen. (2025). Official statements by the General Authority for Land and Sea Ports regarding the motives behind the trade decision regarding Saudi and Egyptian trucks.
• References in public international law, particularly regarding the principle of reciprocity and concepts of commercial sovereignty.
• Shaw, M. (2017). International Law. Cambridge University Press.
• Previous agreements and memoranda of understanding between Syria and both Iraq and Turkey, within the framework of road and land transport, and official statements issued by the Syrian Ministry of Transport.
• Economic and field reports on the Syrian land transport sector, including an analysis of transportation costs and their impact on market performance.Syrian Center for Economic Policies (2024). Challenges of the land transport sector in light of regional crises.