by Sebastien Goulard
At the latest G7 Summit held in Évian last June, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen referred to the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) in her statement, describing it as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz route.
Similarly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor during his address, presenting it as a means to “strengthen supply chains, create investment and employment opportunities, and foster innovation.” He also announced that India is working on similar connectivity initiatives linking the country with Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands, with the aim of strengthening connectivity between India and the countries of the Global South.
The participation of several Gulf leaders at the G7 Summit further underscored the interest of the G7 powers in developing new trade routes that would reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. For Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, all of whom attended the summit, IMEEC is seen as a strategic project that will diversify international partnerships while strengthening their logistics sectors.
Although the implementation of IMEEC was delayed by the crisis in the Middle East following Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, the search for renewed regional stability is now encouraging India, Europe, and the Middle Eastern partners to intensify their efforts to advance the corridor and reduce their exposure to security threats affecting the region, particularly those linked to Iran.
