Turkish and Syrian officials are promoting an alternative regional trade corridor that would bypass Israel and compete with the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) initiative, according to the Israeli news outlet Winte. The rival route would shift the trade axis from Jordan through Syria to Turkey, denying Israel a role in the strategic corridor.
A report published by the Israeli outlet Winte says Turkey and Syria are jointly advancing plans for a regional trade corridor designed to rival the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) initiative, which would link India to Europe via Israeli territory and bypass the Strait of Hormuz. According to Winte, the Turkish-Syrian plan aims to reroute the trade axis from Jordan into Syria and onward to Turkey, effectively cutting Israel out of the strategic passage.
The report comes amid a broader pattern of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's escalating economic and political competition with Israel. As The Zioneer has reported in recent days, Erdogan has issued threats toward Israel, signaled Turkey as an alternative patron for Lebanon, and accused Israel of destabilizing Africa and the Mediterranean. The IMEC corridor, which enjoys U.S. and Israeli backing, is seen by Ankara as a direct challenge to Turkey's regional trade ambitions.
The Winte report cites no named officials and provides no timeline for the alternative corridor's advancement. The claims remain unverified by independent sources.
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