Qatar Has No Plans to Supply Gas to Europe via Syria and Turkey
Majed bin Mohammed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that rumors about Qatar supplying its natural gas to Europe via Syria and Turkey are unfounded. In response to a question from the Russian news agency TASS regarding the possibility of constructing a pipeline, he said, “This is just media speculation.”
Al-Ansari emphasized that Qatar’s priority is to provide humanitarian and technical assistance to the people of Syria. He stated, “As Qatar, we are discussing all kinds of technical assistance to rebuild Syria’s infrastructure, as seen at Damascus International Airport. However, we do not have a plan for gas supply at the economic level.” This statement has reignited discussions around the Qatar-Turkey pipeline.
Discussions about the pipeline have been ongoing since 2009. The potential for Qatar to supply natural gas to Europe via Syria and Turkey has been a topic of international debate since 2009. However, no concrete steps have been taken in this direction to date. Despite possessing the world’s third-largest natural gas reserves, Qatar has focused its gas supply plans predominantly on liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
As of November 2024, Qatar is positioned as the third-largest liquefied natural gas exporter in the world, following the United States and Australia. The country’s strong position in this sector indicates a strategy focused on enhancing existing export infrastructure rather than seeking alternative routes for gas supply.
Qatar's policy towards Syria is humanitarian-focused. Qatar remains committed to providing humanitarian aid and technical support to Syria in its regional policies. Spokesperson al-Ansari stated that Qatar’s efforts encompass the rebuilding of infrastructure and projects aimed at improving living conditions for Syrians.
Furthermore, it was made clear that there are currently no economic plans regarding natural gas supply. This approach reflects Qatar’s stance aligned with its regional cooperation and humanitarian aid-oriented policies.