Syria contracts CMA CGM for Latakia port operations

Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports has signed a new contract with French shipping group CMA CGM to operate the container terminal at Latakia port, the country's main maritime gateway. The agreement outlines new terms, including settling previous dues, and aims to enhance operational efficiency. Negotiations reportedly focused on changes in revenue distribution, a shorter lease period, and technical improvements such as a new ship deck. CMA CGM has managed Latakia's container terminal since 2009, with the contract previously renewed in 2024 under Bashar al-Assad's regime. Following Assad's ousting, the new transitional government is looking to modernize the port operations. The Saade family, which controls CMA CGM, has historical ties to Syria, further complicating the geopolitical context of this agreement.