Syria Is Ready to Cut Russian Oil Imports in Exchange for the Lifting of U.S. Sanctions — Reuters
Syria is prepared to significantly reduce its imports of Russian oil as part of negotiations with the United States aimed at lifting the latest round of major U.S. sanctions against the country. Reuters reports this, citing three sources familiar with the negotiations.
According to the agency, Damascus has been signaling to Washington for several months that it is ready to reduce its purchases of Russian oil. Such a decision could mark a significant shift in Syria’s energy policy, as the country currently relies heavily on Russian energy supplies.
As Reuters notes, the U.S. views this move as an opportunity to weaken Russia’s economic influence in Syria. At the same time, a U.S. official emphasized that there is no official link between the lifting of sanctions and the reduction in Russian oil imports.
According to a U.S. State Department spokesperson, Washington expects Syria to comply with U.S. sanctions against Russia and encourages Damascus to cooperate with trusted international partners—including U.S. companies—in the country’s reconstruction process.
At the same time, Syrian analyst Nawwar Saban warned that a rapid shift away from Russian oil could lead to fuel shortages or rising prices for imported energy resources, so replacing suppliers will take time.
According to Reuters, Syria is already seeking alternative sources of supply. A representative of the Syrian energy sector told the agency that the country is expecting “radical changes” in the energy sector.
In particular, in July, the French company TotalEnergies discussed with Syrian authorities the possibility of signing a contract for offshore oil exploration. In addition, in June, Syria signed an agreement with ConocoPhillips and Novaterra to resume gas production.
Source: Reuters.
As a reminder, Lebanon and Syria participated for the first time in a military conference organized by the U.S. and its allies.
The United States imposed new sanctions against a number of Russian military entities for violating the Iran, Syria, and North Korea Nonproliferation Act (INKSNA). This was reported by the U.S. Department of State.
