Saudi Arabia is considering a significant alteration to the proposed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), potentially rerouting the trade initiative through Syria to exclude Israel.
The move reflects a strategic reassessment by Riyadh as momentum toward Israeli-Saudi normalization has collapsed following the ongoing war in Gaza.
The potential shift underscores the deepening geopolitical fragmentation in the region.
By exploring a Syrian route, Saudi Arabia aims to maintain its role as a central logistics hub while distancing itself from a partner whose relations with the kingdom have deteriorated.
This development adds another layer of complexity to global trade infrastructure planning, which had previously relied on Israeli cooperation for the corridor's viability.
The report comes as broader shipping risks in the Middle East continue to mount.