In 2009, Syria declined a proposal for a natural gas pipeline from Qatar to Europe, which would have crossed its territory. The project aimed to transport Qatari gas to Europe via Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey.

It is widely believed that Russia pressured Syria to block the project, as it posed a direct threat to Russia’s dominance in the European gas market. Instead, Syria expressed willingness to support an alternative pipeline project from Iran, Russia’s ally, to Lebanon via Iraq and Syria. This alternative would have bolstered Iranian and Russian influence in the region. However, this project was never realized due to political instability and the onset of the Syrian civil war.

This rejection is often cited in discussions about the geopolitical struggle over energy resources and influence in the Middle East.