U.S. Proposes Demilitarized Economic Zone in Israel-Syria Security Talks

PARIS (VINnews)— The United States has presented Israel and Syria with a new proposal aimed at advancing a security agreement, including the establishment of a demilitarized economic zone along both sides of their shared border, a U.S. official said Monday.

The proposal draws parallels to a similar idea floated by the Trump administration for a demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s Donbas region to address territorial disputes with Russia.

“This economic zone will include wind farms, agriculture, the best ski mountain in the Middle East and the Druze community that is the best at hospitality,” the U.S. official said.

The official added that regional partners have already committed to financing the project but declined to identify the countries involved.

The suggestion came during recent talks in Paris mediated by U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and President Trump’s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Israeli and U.S. officials described the discussions as candid and productive, with both sides agreeing to accelerate negotiations, hold more frequent meetings and implement confidence-building measures.

The Trump administration views a security pact as key to stabilizing the border region — occupied in part by Israeli forces since the 2024 fall of the Assad regime — and potentially paving the way for broader diplomatic normalization.

Any final agreement is expected to address demilitarization in southern Syria and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied areas.