Turkey and Saudi Arabia Advance New Trade Route Bypassing Israel

Turkey has signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia to rebuild the historic Hejaz Railway, originally launched in 1908 to connect Damascus with Medina in the Hijaz region of western Arabia. Ankara aims to establish this railway as an alternative trade corridor to the Strait of Hormuz, circumventing the IMEC corridor plan that involves Israel. The IMEC initiative, unveiled by then-US President Joe Biden in September 2023, seeks to create a trade corridor linking India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel. However, ongoing conflict in the Middle East since October 7, 2023, has stalled progress on IMEC.

Turkey, frustrated by its exclusion from IMEC, has developed two parallel projects: the "Development Road" with Iraq and now the Hejaz Railway restoration. The new railway route will diverge from the original path, running from Saudi Arabia to the port of Aqaba in Jordan, then continuing to Amman, Damascus, Aleppo, and finally into Turkey, which is well-connected to extensive European rail networks. This route bypasses Israel and reduces Saudi Arabia's incentive to invest in the IMEC corridor, especially given the political fallout from Israel's "Operation Iron Swords," which damaged the Gulf states' regional standing.

Experts note that Turkey's strategy aims to highlight supply chain vulnerabilities exposed by recent conflicts and position itself as a key bridge between the eastern and western Middle East. Dr. Hai Eitan Cohen Yanarojek from Tel Aviv University's Moshe Dayan Center and the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security explains that Turkey's involvement could economically benefit Syria and weaken Israel's regional interests. Funding for the project may come from Qatar, further emphasizing shifting alliances in the region.

The Hejaz Railway restoration represents a significant geopolitical move by Turkey and Saudi Arabia to reshape regional trade routes and alliances, sidelining Israel's role in Middle Eastern economic corridors. The project is expected to expand Turkey's influence and connectivity with Europe while offering Gulf states an alternative to the IMEC plan.