Russia resumes wheat deliveries to Syria under post-Assad rule
Read NV on Google
Russian ship carrying wheat arrived at the Syrian port of Latakia, marking the first delivery of its kind since former president Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December, Reuters reported on April 20.
Syria’s General Directorate of Land and Sea Borders confirmed the arrival of the vessel, carrying 6,600 tons of wheat. The statement did not specify the ship’s nationality or destination, but a regional commodity trader told Reuters that the cargo originated from Russia.
Traders said Syria has largely depended this year on overland wheat imports from neighboring countries.
Russia and Iran, both of which were staunch supporters of Assad’s regime, had previously supplied most of Syria’s wheat and petroleum products. These deliveries stopped after Assad fled to Moscow following the rebel takeover.
Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is now focused on rebuilding the country’s war-torn economy after 14 years of conflict, journalists wrote.
Officials from the new Islamist-led administration said that although the import of wheat and other essential food products is not subject to US or UN sanctions, difficulties in securing financing for trade deals are deterring many international suppliers from selling to Syria.
As previously reported, two US-sanctioned tankers delivered Russian Arctic oil to Syria for the first time in March.
That same month, Russia also sent diesel fuel to Syria — the first known direct shipment to the Middle Eastern country in over a decade.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
