India Introduces Connectivity Project Between New Delhi and the Middle East to Curb China’s Influence in the Gulf

After the I2U2 group’s meeting, India wants to counter the influence of China in the Gulf with a connectivity project between New Delhi and the Middle East.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: May 13, 2023

India is preparing to undertake a vital connectivity project to link New Delhi to the Middle East. The country could have initiated the project to combat the growing influence of China in the Gulf areas. The idea of launching a connectivity project that links India to Middle Eastern nations through seaports, rails, and roads happened after the I2U2 group meeting. The group comprises Israel and its member states as well.

Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser of India in the meeting communicated with his counterparts from UAE and US, as well as Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince. The leaders spoke about rail networks and joint infrastructure projects to connect different countries of the Middle East. Abraham Accords is a Trump-era agreement and I2U2 is a result of it.

The agreement helped in normalizing relations between several Arab countries and Israel, which also made it permissible for the existence of the I2U2 group. As for India, it is supposedly a major power in Asian terrain and has a good record of being an infrastructure provider. The nation has the largest rail system in the world in Asia. India also assists with sharing arrangements for cross-border electricity.

If we consider Saudi Arabia, it is not integrated into the I2U2 group for having no formal relations with Israel. But with the Saudi Crown Prince’s presence, India may participate in waning the influence of China in the Middle East with the connectivity project. Millions of Indians work in the Middle East and send remittances home. The region is also essential for trade interests and thus, becoming crucial for India to focus on it.

Also, China’s BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) investment and the latest strategic agreement with Iran are reasons why India wants to dim the growing influence of its neighbor in the Middle East. Recently, China also facilitated a reconciliation deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran. For India, the benefit lies at both sea and land trade pathways that cover Israel and the United Arab Emirates to Piraeus harbor in Greece, going into Europe.