Azernews.Az

Elnur Enveroglu

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On 2 August 2025, i.e, today, in the Turkish city of Kilis, a moment of quiet historic significance unfolded: Azerbaijani natural gas began flowing to war-scarred Syria via Turkish territory. It was not merely the start of a commercial transaction, but the unveiling of a new phase in regional energy diplomacy, one that could have profound implications for Syria’s recovery, for energy security in the Middle East, and for Azerbaijan’s rising global role as a strategic energy player.

The event drew government officials from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Syria, and Qatar. But beyond protocol and ceremony, this development signals something far more ambitious: a bridge between the South Caucasus and the Levant, built not of concrete or steel, but of trust, energy, and mutual interest.

According to Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov, who also chairs the Supervisory Board of SOCAR, the gas export operation was a direct result of the understandings reached between President Ilham Aliyev and Syria’s transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa during bilateral meetings in Antalya (April) and Baku (July). The speed at which the project materialised speaks volumes about the alignment of intent between Baku and Ankara, and their shared commitment to regional reconstruction and resilience.

In a region defined in recent years more by disintegration than cooperation, this project carries geopolitical weight. It proves that Azerbaijan and Turkey are not only economic partners, but also co-architects of a more interconnected, stabilised Middle East.

Jabbarov rightly described the project as a milestone in Azerbaijan’s energy export history. It marks the 14th country to receive Azerbaijani gas—a remarkable statistic for a nation that, barely two decades ago, was considered a peripheral player in global energy markets. Today, through SOCAR’s international expansion and strategic diplomacy, Azerbaijan is rapidly becoming an indispensable link in the global energy chain.

The infrastructure itself is based on a "swap" agreement signed between SOCAR and Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Under this model, Azerbaijani gas is delivered to the Turkish grid, and an equivalent volume is transferred from Turkey to Syria via the Kilis route. The Yavuzlu Metering Station will handle up to 6 million cubic metres per day—equivalent to as much as 2 billion cubic metres annually in the initial stage. Crucially, this gas will be used to restart electricity generation in Syria, potentially bringing 1,200 megawatts of power capacity back online.

This is not just about energy. It is about dignity, stability, and the return of normal life. Syria has suffered enormously from more than a decade of war, with its infrastructure bombed into ruin and millions of its people displaced. Access to electricity is a first step toward rebuilding schools, hospitals, water systems, and livelihoods. It is also a necessary precondition for the safe and voluntary return of refugees—a goal shared by all countries bordering Syria.

Syria’s Minister of Energy, Mohammad al-Bashir, expressed deep gratitude to both Azerbaijan and Turkey for what he described as a lifeline. His words should not be dismissed as diplomatic niceties. For Syrians who have lived for years in darkness, literally and figuratively, this gas pipeline is a flicker of hope.

What makes this initiative particularly commendable is its long-term vision. Rather than waiting for post-conflict stabilisation or Western funding, Azerbaijan and Turkey have taken proactive steps to rebuild trust and infrastructure in Syria, beginning with the most basic need: power. In doing so, they are demonstrating a model of south-south cooperation that bypasses traditional donor-recipient dynamics and instead fosters peer-to-peer reconstruction.

Moreover, this development positions Azerbaijan as a unique bridge between regions. No longer just a Caspian exporter serving Europe, it is now a transcontinental actor able to link Eurasia with the Middle East through strategic energy corridors. The Turkey-Syria pipeline is, in many ways, a southern extension of the Southern Gas Corridor—a project that already links Azerbaijan to European markets through Georgia, Turkey, and onwards via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline.

This expansion into the Middle East may also encourage further energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Gulf countries, such as Qatar, which was represented at the Kilis event. In a time of shifting alliances and growing competition over global LNG markets, Azerbaijan’s move to diversify its customer base is as smart as it is strategic.

Of course, some will question the viability of operating in Syria given the still-fragile security situation. But risks exist in every major infrastructure venture, and the logic of development here is compelling. By helping to stabilise Syria, Azerbaijan is not just serving its own economic interests; it is contributing to broader regional security, a factor that directly affects the South Caucasus as well.

The timing of the project is no accident. With global energy markets in flux, and the geopolitics of supply chains under constant scrutiny, Azerbaijan’s agility in tapping new export routes reflects its growing maturity as a state actor. It is no longer just reacting to external events; it is shaping them.

In a nutshell, the launch of Azerbaijani gas exports to Syria via Turkey is a bold and commendable move. It strengthens trilateral ties between Baku, Ankara, and Damascus, aids a war-torn country in its recovery, and further elevates Azerbaijan’s status as a trusted, strategic energy partner. More than a pipeline, it is a symbol of resilience, renewal, and the power of purposeful diplomacy.

Let there be no doubt: this is energy diplomacy at its best.