Saudi Arabia exploring IMEC route through Syria, sidestepping Israel
The war in Gaza and the collapse of momentum toward Israeli-Saudi normalization have forced Riyadh to reassess the route of the project
Assessment
Riyadh is actively considering a detour for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor that bypasses Israel entirely, routing instead through Syria. This shift reflects how the Gaza war has stalled the normalization talks that were supposed to underpin the original plan. The move signals a strategic recalibration by Saudi Arabia, prioritizing project viability over diplomatic breakthroughs with Israel. The key question is whether a Syrian route is logistically and politically feasible given the ongoing instability there.