Syrian President, Iraqi PM Discuss Oil Pipeline and Security Cooperation in Damascus

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at Damascus International Airport on Wednesday, the Syrian Presidency said. The two leaders subsequently held talks at the People’s Palace in the Syrian capital.

Delegations and Discussion Topics

The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in security, economic affairs and trade, according to the presidency. The two sides also reviewed regional and international developments and exchanged views on several issues of mutual concern, with the aim of advancing shared interests and reinforcing regional stability.

The Syrian delegation included the ministers of foreign affairs and expatriates, justice, energy, and finance. The Iraqi side was represented by the deputy prime minister for economic affairs, the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, oil, and justice, along with a number of senior officials, the statement added.

Oil Pipeline and Economic Integration

According to the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Media Office, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the talks addressed several key files, including the export of Iraqi oil through the Baniyas pipeline, which has a capacity of two million barrels per day. The discussions also covered the expansion of trade volume and cooperation in agricultural development to promote food and economic integration.

The Iraqi prime minister reaffirmed that “the Iraqi and Syrian peoples are one people in two states,” his media office said. He highlighted ongoing efforts to “develop joint partnership and cooperation across various sectors, particularly in economic and social fields, strengthen security coordination, unify stances on regional and international issues, and work toward achieving peace and stability in the region.”

Regional Context and Previous Engagement

Earlier, Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi stated on X that the visit would focus on the future of Syrian-Iraqi relations, regional developments and their implications, as well as the geopolitical challenges confronting both countries. Al-Aboudi added that economic and trade cooperation would take precedence, driven by the need to establish investment partnerships capable of translating neighborly ties into shared interests and opportunities for growth. He noted that the visit reflects the Iraqi government’s approach to engagement, balance and dialogue, underscoring Baghdad’s commitment to strengthening relations with Damascus on the basis of mutual respect and common understanding to bolster the security and stability of both nations.

The meeting in Damascus is part of ongoing political and economic engagement between the two capitals. It follows a previous encounter between Zaidi and President Sharaa on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last September. During that earlier meeting, the two sides examined ways to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation, secure shared borders, expand bilateral trade, and assess the feasibility of rehabilitating pipelines to transport Iraqi oil through Syrian territory to the Mediterranean. Syria and Iraq share a long border and have historically maintained close relations.

The visit was preceded by remarks from President al-Sharaa during an interview with Iraq’s Dijlah TV on Tuesday evening. In the interview, he underscored the importance of building bilateral relations on shared economic and security interests, particularly in water resources, agriculture, border crossings and energy. President Sharaa stressed that economic ties form the historical backbone of Syrian-Iraqi relations and called for their development to ensure sustainable cooperation resilient to political fluctuations.

This report is based on information from The Syrian Observer.