Saudi Arabia is advancing a plan to exclude Israel from the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) economic corridor and reroute trade through Syria instead of Israel, two sources familiar with the details told i24NEWS. The move reflects difficulties in advancing normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as developments in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, according to the report.
Saudi Arabia is advancing a plan to exclude Israel from the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) economic corridor and reroute trade through Syria instead of Israel, two sources familiar with the details told i24NEWS. The corridor, announced by U.S. President Joe Biden at the G-20 summit in September 2023, was originally designed to transport goods from India to Europe via the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece, with the rail route passing through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel before reaching Europe via Haifa port. The plan was contingent on normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, but difficulties in advancing that normalization, combined with developments in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb, and the Persian Gulf, have led Riyadh to reconsider, according to the sources.
Earlier today, The Zioneer reported that Gideon Bromberg, the Israeli CEO of Ecopeace Middle East, said in a radio interview that India strongly desires the IMEC corridor to pass through Israel. The Zioneer has also previously reported on efforts by Turkey and Syria to integrate themselves into the corridor in place of Israel, as well as a broader geopolitical rivalry between Turkey and Israel over the trade route. The new Saudi move, if confirmed, would mark a significant shift in the regional alignment, potentially sidelining Israel from a project seen as a key strategic and economic initiative.
The report is based on two sources but has not been officially confirmed by Saudi or Israeli officials. Further details remain unverified.
3 developments
- DevelopingTurkey, Syria advancing rival trade corridor to bypass Israel, report says
- DevelopingTurkish minister says Saudi Arabia will connect to Turkey via rail through Jordan within 3-4 years
- DevelopingReport: US considers withdrawing troops from Saudi Arabia amid tensions over Iran war
- DevelopingN12 analyst: Turkey, Israel in all-out race over rival IMEC trade corridors
Source and signal
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