Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi travelled to Damascus this week for his first visit to Syria, meeting Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss closer energy and security ties between the two countries.
Pipeline plans revived
The two leaders discussed plans to export oil through the pipeline linking Kirkuk in northern Iraq to the Syrian Mediterranean port of Baniyas. The pipeline, which has the capacity to carry 2 million barrels per day, is currently dormant.
Zaidi’s office said the discussions also touched on food and agriculture cooperation between the two countries.
Wider cooperation agenda
Beyond energy, the talks covered security arrangements, economic and trade cooperation, and investment. Regional developments were also on the agenda, according to Zaidi’s office.
The state news agency SANA reported that trade and investment featured prominently in the discussions. Sharaa has sought to assuage concerns in Iraq about his past militant activity there, a backdrop that frames the broader warming in relations now underway.
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Source: SANA
