Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan articulated his country’s commitment to revitalizing a Gulf transport corridor that would connect Turkey with Saudi Arabia and Gulf states through Syrian and Jordanian territories. Speaking at a dialogue on Turkish foreign policy organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore on 2nd June 2026, Fidan emphasized the strategic importance of establishing this Gulf transport corridor for facilitating trade, energy transportation, and the movement of goods across the region and to international markets.
The initiative responds to significant challenges in global maritime transportation. Fidan noted that recent developments affecting sea-based shipping have increased costs and prompted regional nations to explore more dependable and economical land-based alternatives. The Gulf transport corridor represents a comprehensive approach to addressing these challenges while strengthening economic ties between participating nations.
The Turkish minister elaborated on the multifaceted benefits of enhancing regional connectivity through Syria. Rather than focusing solely on energy transport, the proposed Gulf transport corridor encompasses the broader movement of goods, food supplies, and commercial exchanges between regional countries. This integrated approach aims to establish an efficient logistics network capable of linking the Arabian Gulf to European markets through Syrian and Turkish territory.
Beyond immediate commercial benefits, Fidan highlighted how such transport and connectivity projects could generate broader economic advantages. By fostering regional cooperation, these initiatives promise to create new opportunities for trade and economic collaboration while simultaneously strengthening regional stability through increased economic interdependence and facilitated investment flows.
To this end, Syria’s Minister of Transport Yarub Badr engaged with representatives from the Technical Engineering Company of Turkish Railways in May 2026 to discuss strengthening cooperation in railway infrastructure. The discussions centered on revitalizing Syria’s railway network through a coordinated approach that would establish a rail corridor linking Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and ultimately extending to Saudi Arabia and Gulf states.
In parallel diplomatic efforts, Syria’s transport minister engaged with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser in April 2026. These discussions centered on developing bilateral cooperation in both land and rail transportation systems while advancing broader regional connectivity initiatives. The talks specifically addressed streamlining the movement of transit goods through land corridors and optimizing supply chain efficiency to strengthen economic integration and increase bilateral trade volumes.
In April 2026 the transport ministers of Syria, Jordan, and Turkey formalized their commitment by signing a memorandum of understanding during a tripartite meeting in Amman. This accord emerged from comprehensive joint ministerial committee sessions dedicated to transport sector cooperation and included participation from both public and private sector representatives and logistics specialists.
