Türkiye, Jordan, and Syria Sign Major Trilateral Pact to Revive North-South Trade Corridor and Hejaz Railway

A new trilateral agreement between Türkiye, Jordan, and Syria aims to revive the Hejaz Railway and create a North-South trade corridor from the Mediterranean.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 7, 2026, 11:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AA (Anadolu Agency)

Strategic Trilateral Agreement for Regional Connectivity

In a significant diplomatic and economic development, the transport ministers of Türkiye, Jordan, and Syria convened in Amman on Tuesday to formalize a trilateral cooperation agreement. Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, alongside his counterparts Nidal Qatamin of Jordan and Yarub Badr of Syria, signed a memorandum of understanding designed to revitalize the North-South transport corridor. This initiative is framed as a strategic declaration of will intended to bolster regional development and ensure economic prosperity through the integration of national logistics networks.

Revitalizing the Historic Hejaz Railway Network

A central pillar of the new agreement is the symbolic and practical restoration of the Hejaz Railway. Originally commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II and inaugurated in 1908, the line historically connected Istanbul with Damascus and the holy cities of the Arabian Peninsula. Minister Uraloglu emphasized that reviving this historic route according to modern standards is a priority for all three nations. The plan involves not only restoring original segments but also developing new rail connections that will facilitate the seamless movement of goods and passengers across the Türkiye-Syria-Jordan axis.

Integration of Mediterranean and Red Sea Port Hubs

The trilateral mechanism seeks to create a unified logistics network by leveraging the unique geographic advantages of each signatory. By combining Türkiye and Syria’s Mediterranean port capacities with Jordan’s strategic access to the Red Sea via the Gulf of Aqaba, the ministers aim to establish a land-sea bridge. This corridor would allow goods arriving from Europe and the north to reach the Red Sea and beyond with greater efficiency. Minister Uraloglu noted that the Port of Aqaba is specifically positioned to serve as a critical gateway for transit trade moving toward the Arabian Peninsula.