Russia has made a bold move by shipping diesel directly to Syria for the first time in more than ten years, according to LSEG shipping data. This comes despite stringent US and EU sanctions aimed at curbing Russia’s oil exports. The shipment was carried aboard the Barbados-flagged tanker Prosperity, formerly known as NS Pride, which was loaded at the Russian Baltic port of Primorsk on February 8. The vessel has since anchored near the Syrian port of Banias, raising questions about its final destination.
This development marks a significant shift in Russia’s energy trade strategy, particularly as Moscow seeks to maintain influence in Syria amid growing uncertainties. Russia’s key military bases in Syria—the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartous naval facility—are considered crucial to its geopolitical reach in the Middle East and Africa. However, with the fall of Bashar al-Assad last year, Russia’s control over these bases has become increasingly precarious. Moscow has openly stated its intention to preserve its presence in Syria, making this diesel shipment a potential reinforcement of its strategic interests in the region.
US sanctions on Russia have targeted its oil industry since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, aiming to cut revenues that could fund its military efforts. The Prosperity tanker was specifically added to the US sanctions list on January 10, as part of measures affecting around 180 vessels involved in Russian oil exports. The European Union and the UK followed suit on February 24, intensifying restrictions on Moscow’s energy trade. Companies and entities violating these sanctions risk severe financial penalties, with previous cases resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements.
Syria, which has been struggling with fuel shortages, has also been seeking additional energy supplies. The government recently issued an import tender for 20,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and has been looking for alternative crude oil suppliers since Iranian shipments halted in November. Syria’s domestic refining capacity, centered around the Homs and Banias refineries, has been severely impacted since Assad’s fall, making foreign imports critical to meeting domestic energy demands.
The broader geopolitical implications of this shipment are significant. Russia’s willingness to circumvent Western sanctions and directly support Syria highlights its commitment to maintaining its foothold in the region. At the same time, the US has extended a six-month waiver on its own Syria-related sanctions, focusing on energy sector exemptions and financial transfers. This could signal a more complex energy trade dynamic, where different players seek to leverage sanctions regimes for strategic gains.
With fuel shortages worsening and international pressure mounting, Syria’s energy future remains uncertain. Will Russia continue to defy sanctions to sustain its ally? How will the West respond to Moscow’s latest move? The coming months may reveal further developments in this unfolding geopolitical energy battle.