US President Donald Trump expressed open support for a major economic corridor for India. During a meeting with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab countries at the UN General Assembly, Trump backed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative.
He emphasized the need to divert Middle Eastern energy infrastructure away from the bottleneck in Iran. Trump noted that Iran's attacks on commercial transport in neighboring countries have heightened this necessity. He stated that his administration strongly supports IMEC, as well as other alternative routes for oil exports, including pipelines and other options.
According to Trump, joint cooperation will help overcome long-standing problems in the Middle East. The IMEC plan itself was presented in 2023 with the aim of connecting India with Europe via the Persian Gulf region. This corridor includes an Eastern Corridor, which will link India to the Persian Gulf, and a Northern Corridor, connecting the Persian Gulf to Europe.
The corridor comprises not only railway and maritime transit networks but also road transport routes. Trump's recent support highlighted America's strategic vision, which views IMEC in the context of connecting Middle Eastern energy supply through alternative routes.
During this meeting, Trump once again issued a stern warning to Iran. He stated that America has economically isolated Iran and hopes that Iran will soon make the right decision. Trump added that there may come a point when it will be too late, and America will have no option to allow Iran to exist as a nation.
Trump also reported that the leaders of the countries present at the meeting with America also wish for Iran to take appropriate steps. He described the leaders of the GCC and Arab countries as close allies and partners of America, noting that their goal is to make the Middle East safer and more prosperous.
Trump's statement came amid intensified discussions about alternative energy supply routes due to wars and attacks on commercial transport in the Middle East. Under these circumstances, America's open support for IMEC is considered important for India.
