Can Syria’s Five Seas vision be revived?

It is undeniable that there are ongoing political shifts in the Middle East. They are evident from some of the ongoing developments over the past months, including but not limited to China’s increasing influence in the region, some of the Arab nations indirect support for Russia, Saudi Arabia’s position on oil production cuts, Saudi-Israeli hurdles in normalization talks, the Saudi-Iran agreement, Iran’s current reconciliation attempts with Egypt, Syria’s readmission to the Arab League, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) withdrawal from the US-led maritime security coalition. These developments overall present unprecedented challenges to the United States (US).

In this respect, most of the Arab nations are close allies of the US and have had their foreign policies aligned with those of the US over the past decades. However, actions on the ground nowadays say otherwise.While the global political ramifications of the ongoing transformations in the Middle Eastern political terrain are yet to be observed, it is worth noting that there may be significant economic implications and opportunities to be explored.

One potential avenue for revitalizing Syria’s economy in the aftermath of a decade-long civil conflict is the implementation of the “Five Seas” initiative, which could serve as a catalyst for rapid economic growth. Moreover, the proposed vision will enable Arab nations to strategically collaborate on achieving a mutually beneficial economic outcome at the national level. In these politically charged times, it is imperative to acknowledge the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in spearheading the region’s economic diversification investments. Similarly, Egypt’s ongoing infrastructure mega-developments are pivotal in realizing the country’s economic growth ambitions.

The Syrian government first introduced the “Five Seas” vision in 2004 with the intention of increasing its regional geopolitical and economic clout. The strategic proposal primarily encompasses the five seas surrounding Syria, namely the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Arabian Gulf. The underlying objective of the proposal is to establish robust economic and political alliances between Syria and the participating nations, thereby expanding Syria’s influence beyond its immediate vicinity. Moreover, the proposed strategy prioritizes the establishment of a dependable infrastructure for transportation that interlinks the five seas, thereby enabling seamless trade and commerce among neighbouring nations.

In this regard, the objective of the transportation infrastructure is to enhance regional commerce through collective efforts. Therefore, contributing to the advancement of global economic development and prosperity for all nations concerned. Furthermore, the “Five Seas” initiative endeavours to foster politically advantageous diplomatic relations between Syria and neighbouring nations in the region. The current political climate suggests that Syria’s recent readmission to the Arab League has made it highly feasible for the country to establish stronger diplomatic ties with key Arab leaders, as evidenced by the warm welcome extended to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the Arab League Summit in Jeddah in May 2023.

On a domestic development scale, the Five Seas Plan includes several critical elements for Syria. Firstly, the development of Syria’s sea ports will enable the country to handle larger volumes of goods and cargo. This move will increase Syria’s trade capabilities and act as a source of national revenue. The plan also considers Syria’s role in the global energy market. The country’s geographical location makes it a crucial player in the transportation of oil and gas from the Middle East to Europe. Thus, effective and efficient transportation of these key resources will provide Syria with bargaining power as well as secure its position in the global energy market. In this respect, it is worth noting that prior to the eruption of the civil war in Syria, there were talks concerning the development of gas pipelines connecting Qatar-KSA-Jordan-Syria as well as a pipeline connecting Iran-Iraq-Syria, from which both pipelines would be connected to Turkey and then to Europe.

(Excerpts)

Geopolitical Monitor