US President Donald Trump has thrown his administration’s support behind the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying the project could help create alternative routes for energy and trade as the Middle East faces continued disruption linked to the war with Iran.
Trump made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He said attacks on commercial shipping had highlighted the need to move critical Middle Eastern energy infrastructure away from routes vulnerable to disruption linked to Iran.
IMEC as an Alternative Route
Trump said his administration “strongly supports” IMEC and referred to pipelines and other infrastructure that could help move oil and other energy supplies through alternative routes.
The comments come amid continued disruptions to commercial shipping in the region and heightened concerns over the security of major energy routes.
IMEC was unveiled in 2023 through a memorandum of understanding involving India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union. The proposed corridor is designed to connect India with the Gulf and the Gulf with Europe through an eastern and a northern corridor.
The project envisages rail and ship-to-rail transportation networks, along with other infrastructure intended to facilitate the movement of goods and energy between the three regions.
Part of a Broader Regional Strategy
Trump’s remarks place IMEC within a broader US effort to develop alternative energy and trade routes amid the Iran conflict. A separate US proposal reported by the Financial Times involves a $10 billion investment initiative with Arab allies to develop energy infrastructure, including pipelines, that could help reduce dependence on routes affected by disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
However, IMEC itself is not currently an operational replacement for the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts note that the corridor would require substantial infrastructure development and would form part of a broader network of alternative trade and energy routes.
Trump Issues Fresh Warning to Iran
At the same time, Trump has continued to pressure Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington.
In his UN General Assembly address, Trump warned that Iran could face severe consequences if no deal is reached, while saying a settlement could still be possible. Reuters reported that Trump also said US representatives had held talks with Iranian mediators during the UN gathering.
The latest comments therefore combine two approaches: continued diplomatic contacts with Iran and pressure for alternative regional energy and trade infrastructure that could reduce exposure to vulnerable maritime routes.
