The anticipated economic link between Syria and Iraq under American auspices

The Syrian Future Movement is following the report published by Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Monday, July 6, 2026, regarding preparations by Syria and Iraq to sign an economic integration agreement under US auspices. This comes on the sidelines of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Abdullah Saleh’s visit to Washington in mid-July, which includes meetings with US President Donald Trump and leaders in Congress.

This development is part of a growing diplomatic and economic momentum, exemplified by French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus (July 6-7, 2026), the return of Syrian artifacts from France, and ongoing meetings with Iraqi officials, all of which strengthen Syria’s position as an active partner in the region.

Based on the Syrian Future Movement’s methodology of “supporting national solutions without endorsing any party unconditionally, and criticizing what threatens the state-building process without hostility,” this statement is issued to assess this important step, emphasizing that its success depends on the transitional government’s ability to translate the understandings into tangible development projects, while preserving national sovereignty and ensuring transparency:

First: The Syrian Future Movement welcomes this step, which ends years of economic isolation and restores Syria to its natural position as an active participant in regional connectivity projects. We also highly value the indications from sources that the agreement aims to launch cross-border economic projects, including the development of energy and trade corridors and linking Iraq to the Syrian coast on the Mediterranean Sea. We see these projects as a genuine opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries and provide Iraq with additional outlets for oil exports, reducing its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, while Syria is counting on regaining its role as a regional energy and trade hub.

Second: The Syrian Future Movement notes that this agreement coincides with Iraqi and Syrian efforts to revive the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline project. Last June, Baghdad signed a memorandum of understanding with TI Capital to conduct technical studies for a new pipeline extending from Basra to Haditha and then to Banias, with a capacity of up to two million barrels per day.

The Syrian Future Movement supports this initiative, which strengthens economic cooperation between the two countries, contributes to enhancing regional energy security, and provides promising investment opportunities.

It is worth noting that this project was stalled for decades due to the policies of the ousted regime, and its revival today represents a historic opportunity to rebuild Syria’s energy infrastructure.

Third: The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its consistent positions supporting infrastructure development and the strengthening of regional cooperation, published on its official website, including:

• The statement issued at the launch of the Syrian-British Business Council Conference (dated July 2, 2026), which welcomed the economic opening to Europe and considered it evidence of renewed confidence in Syria.
• The study “Reconstruction Priorities in Syria” (dated December 19, 2024) emphasized that developing the energy sector and infrastructure is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development and creating job opportunities.

Fourth: The Syrian Future Movement expresses cautious optimism and offers a set of recommendations to ensure that this agreement translates into tangible development projects, while preserving national sovereignty and enhancing transparency.

It also notes that the agreement is sponsored by the United States, with US Special Envoy Tom Barrack overseeing the understandings between the two sides. This necessitates vigilance to ensure that these projects do not become tools for domination or subservience.

Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:

1. Ensuring full transparency in the agreement’s terms and implementation mechanisms, disclosing project details, funding sources, and implementing entities, and involving the local community and oversight bodies in monitoring implementation to prevent any corruption or waste of resources.
2. Maintaining national sovereignty in project management, ensuring that decisions regarding the operation and management of energy lines and trade routes remain in the hands of the Syrian state, and preventing any external party from imposing conditions that infringe upon the independence of national decision-making.
3. Linking economic connectivity projects to national development plans to ensure that these projects are part of an integrated strategy for sustainable development and are not isolated from reconstruction and development efforts.
4. Strengthening cooperation with sister Arab states and building upon this agreement to expand the scope of regional cooperation, as indicated by sources regarding the potential accession of other Arab states to the agreement at a later stage, thus contributing to achieving Arab economic integration.

The Syrian Future Movement affirms its welcome of this important step, which confirms Syria’s return to its natural position as an active participant in regional projects. We also emphasize that the success of this agreement depends on political will, transparency, and community participation.

We believe that the Syrian government is called upon today to capitalize on this momentum and continue the path of reforms, so that the new Syria becomes an active partner in building the region’s future, capable of fulfilling its people’s aspirations for freedom, dignity, and prosperity.

As is our role, the Syrian Future Movement will remain supportive, critical, and observant of this path, striving to build the new Syria on the foundations of sovereignty, dignity, and sustainable development.