How Israel-Hamas War Impacts US’s Ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Project (Photo on X Xavi Ruiz @xruiztru ·)
Any war in the world some way impacts the nations across the world and the current Israel-Hamas war that began with the Hamas” attack on Israel in October 7, has caused huge human casualties in the region. The involvement of other militias including Lebanon’s Hizballah and Yemen’s Houthis contributed further to the detrimental impact of the war, with the Houthis” continued attacks on the ships in the Red Sea disrupting the maritime traffic and the businesses around the world.
According to a report, the Israel-Hamas war has caused a halt to the progress of a plan to build new rail links across the Arabian peninsula. The project known as India- Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, an ambitious project of the US and its key allies, is now on a state of stagnation even before its inception. The project has been disrupted due to the Houthis attack in the Red Sea and the subsequent instability in the region.
The project was viewed as a counter move to China’s Belt and Road Infrastructure and with this strategy, the US was planning to wield influence in the global south. According to the former European Union special envoy for connectivity who”s now a distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund, the project has caused Iran, China, Russia and Turkey nervous, noting that it is evidence of the project’s importance. The US president in the last year had also alleged that the possible behind the Hamas attack could be the new initiative.
However, the US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday that the efforts are ongoing to make the groundwork of the corridor. “While it”s principally around a rail system, there would be all kinds of logistics and sustainment hubs along the way, and offer all kinds of opportunities for infrastructure improvement and employment. That”s a years-long process,” John Kirby said.
The US and the European countries have been striving to win the support of the developing countries in their efforts to confront the rising Chinese influence. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was one such project of the US to bolster its hand across the region. US President Joe Biden had termed it as a game-changing regional investment and the project. Several observers had also opined that the project would credit the US by creating a pact between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
However, all the prospects were dimmed when the region went into chaos, with Israel”s continued assault in Gaza. In addition, the sentiments of the people in the Arab countries have turned against Israel and the US due to the continued killing thousands of people in Gaza. Saudi has recently said that it will not normalise ties with Israel unless there is a pathway towards a Palestinian state. The US can only restart its dream project after the complex regional tensions stop.
