The future of Syria, following the overthrow of authoritarian ruler Bashar al-Assad last month and with optimism for peace and democracy, remains uncertain.
The European Union and its regional counterparts—Turkey and the Gulf monarchies—are engaging with Syria’s new leaders, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to encourage a peaceful and inclusive transition and to avoid the outbreak of another civil war.
“Decisions made now will determine Syria’s future in the coming years,” said UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen.
“There are great opportunities and real risks ahead; Syria and the UN must act appropriately for the next phase,” he added.
It has been revealed that massive infrastructure investments from the international community could help stabilize Syria after 14 years of civil war, with Turkey poised to play a key role in such development.
Syria: A New Transportation Hub in the Middle East?
The country urgently needs infrastructure such as railways, airports, and roads to maintain cohesion and ensure the delivery of basic needs for its people and businesses.
“The important thing at this stage is the delivery of aid to all territories in Syria in the most effective way,” said a source from the European Commission.
Turkey, which for years supported rebels seeking to overthrow al-Assad, has a potentially decisive role in shaping Syria’s future for various geographical, political, and economic reasons.
Over the past three decades, Turkey’s extensive construction and infrastructure companies have demonstrated their effectiveness, becoming versatile tools for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s “overseas” ambitions.
According to recent statements from institutional leaders in Turkey, the EU, and Gulf states, a Syrian territory with clear sovereignty ensuring its cohesion is inevitably part of this framework.
It has been reported that Ankara is in close contact and shares a degree of mutual trust with the rebel group HTS, which is currently leading the government in Damascus.
Challenges to Peace
However, Syria is not yet at peace, writes Euronews.
There are frequent clashes between factions in the north and east of the country, as well as occasional incursions by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the south, even beyond the Golan Heights area.
Turkey has two objectives: in the short term, to eliminate the threat of Syrian Kurdish factions on its southern border and, further, to increase its political influence throughout the region by becoming the primary interlocutor for the EU.
Infrastructure is thus essential as a catalyst for regional integration and trade, two key elements of Brussels’ neighborhood policy, which governs the EU’s relations with 16 of the bloc’s closest eastern and southern neighbors, including Syria.
Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu recently announced a government action plan for the renewal of ports, airports, railways, and bridges in Syria.
This includes plans to renew parts of the historic Hejaz railway, spanning 1,750 kilometers in Syria and built between 1900 and 1908, which ran from Istanbul to Medina, according to Turkish media.
“However, for now, it is crucial to reach Damascus,” said Uraloğlu.
Geopolitical and Economic Interests
Meanwhile, Luigi Narbone, a professor at Luiss University in Rome, explained why Syria is a critical element of Turkey’s national interest at this key moment.
“Due to its location in the Gulf and Mediterranean, Syria could serve Turkey in realizing its geoeconomic ambitions, placing it at the center of a series of links between the Gulf region and the Mediterranean,” said Narbone.
Gulf Investments Could Be Crucial
On the other hand, Turkey’s engagement in Syria will require significant investments and financial resources, which may be out of reach due to hyperinflation and public debt stifling its economy.
“Economic fragility is one of the limits to achieving Turkey’s regional ambitions,” said Narbone.
“It is important for Turkey to secure economic and financial support, particularly from Qatar and other Gulf countries. Projects like railways are perhaps something more important for the region,” he added.
If Ankara’s railway ambitions for Syria were to become a reality, in the future, the Arabian Peninsula could be connected by high-speed rail—via Syria’s territorial platform—to the Mediterranean, Turkey, and consequently, the broader corridor between India, the Middle East, and Europe (IMEC), also known as the “Cotton Road.”
The project is backed by the U.S., competing with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and is based on a combination of rail, road, and air infrastructure.
In fact, the Turkish government has announced that Syrian reconstruction will begin with Damascus airport, where the first scheduled international passenger flight operated by Qatar Airways landed on Tuesday.
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