Russia supports the reopening of the oil pipeline between Iraq and Syria.
The American website "Oil Price" revealed in a recent report that Russia is providing clear support for Iraqi efforts to reactivate the oil pipeline connecting Kirkuk in Iraq to the port of Baniyas in Syria. This is part of Moscow's broader strategy to enhance its economic and military influence in the Middle East region.
The report explained that Syria plays a pivotal role in the "Shia Crescent" connecting Iran to Iraq and Lebanon, making it a vital pivot point for Russia in exporting oil and gas to European and African markets.
The strong Russian military presence in Syria, through the Tartus naval base and Hmeimim airbase, along with intelligence facilities near Latakia, enhances Moscow's ability to protect its regional interests.
Syria possesses significant oil and gas reserves, allowing Russia to finance its military presence there. Before the civil war in 2011, Syria was producing around 400,000 barrels of oil per day, with confirmed reserves of up to 2.5 billion barrels. The gas sector also saw notable activity, with an annual production of 316 billion cubic feet in 2010, and reserves estimated at 8.5 trillion cubic feet, according to the report.
To strengthen its influence, Russia has signed several agreements with Damascus to exploit these resources, solidifying its position as a strategic partner in the region.
On the other hand, Iraq is a key element in the Russian strategy, possessing two main advantages compared to Iran, as the report pointed out: not being subject to long-term American sanctions, facilitating oil exports, and the difficulty in distinguishing the source of oil extracted from shared fields with Iran, aiding Tehran in bypassing imposed sanctions.
Currently, Russia is working with Iraq and Iran to establish an "energy land corridor" extending from Iran through Iraq to the Syrian coast, where the reactivation of the Kirkuk-Baniyas pipeline, closed after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, is a key pillar of this project.
