The geo-politics of the Middle East is constantly changing and China is engaged in resolving the disputes between Muslim countries through diplomatic means. The restoration of relations between Saudi and Iran is an example of this.
Indian Rail in Saudi Arabia & UAE: There is a race between America and China to expand dominance in Gulf countries and India has also joined this race. Arab countries have always been important for India, but China has gained a lot in the last few years.
So, now India has also joined the race and according to the latest reports, India has started talks for laying giant rail network in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. According to the report, there is a possibility of speedy work on this project.
India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met his counterparts from the US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Indian Express reported. In this conversation, Saudi Arabia and UAE have to be connected to the ports through rail network, so that it will also be connected to India through shipping lanes from the ports.
This proposal is actually a White House proposal and India has said that it will give its expertise in setting up the rail network.
What is the Rail Project in Saudi-UAE?
Sources in New Delhi have said that Ajit Doval has gone to Saudi Arabia for Sunday’s meeting. During this, he has had meetings with the NSA of Saudi Arabia, UAE and America. In this meeting, discussions were held regarding this giant rail project. This rail network will be connected to the roads and seas of both the countries.
Through this US project, using railway, sea and road networks, the countries of West Asia, which America calls the Middle East, will be connected. Along with this, it will be connected to South Asia through sea route.
China is making rapid strides in the Middle East countries through the Belt and Road Initiative in this region, which also has to build roads, railways and ports, but America wants to implement its project soon. To help him establish communication channels.
On the other hand, America wants India to help it with its railway expertise in setting up a giant rail network and Ajit Doval has gone to Saudi Arabia to discuss this.
Competition to China’s Belt Belt and Road Initiative
The US, along with India, is working on a plan to set up a giant rail network in the Middle East, the news was first reported by American news website Axios.
Its report says that this is a very important initiative for the White House, which it wants to implement in the Middle East. Because China’s influence is increasing in this region. The Middle East is an important part of China’s Belt and Road vision.
According to the Indian Express report, sources in Delhi said that the Indian side is keen to participate in the project as it serves three strategic objectives of India.
India’s three strategic objectives
First, Beijing has expanded its sphere of political influence in the West Asian region, which Delhi views as “mission creep”. The sudden restoration of political relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has taken India by surprise.
India has a lot of interests attached to it in this region, so increasing influence of China poses a threat to Indian interests. This entire region is also very important for India’s energy security.
So, if India becomes a part of this rail plan, then connectivity for India will increase and goods will be able to reach India very quickly. At the same time, after the establishment of this network, faster movement of crude oil will start and reduce the cost of India in the long run. Boosting connectivity will also help the eight million citizens of India who live and work in the Gulf region.
Second, the project will help India build its own brand as an infrastructure builder in the railway sector. Boasting of a robust rail network at home and having achieved success in building such infrastructure in Sri Lanka, India is confident of doing the same overseas.
India wants private as well as public sector companies to explore the potential economic and infrastructure opportunities in the Middle East. It will also have implications for countering the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative.
Third, the Indian government feels that Pakistan repeatedly tries to harass India by closing the land transit route, which has long limited India’s connectivity with its western neighbors.
Therefore, Delhi wants to use shipping routes to reach West Asian ports. These include India-built Chabahar port in Iran and Bandar-e-Abbas (Iran), Duqm (Oman), Dubai (UAE), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Kuwait City.
This rail network will pass between Gulf and Arab countries, so it opens up opportunities for India to reach Gulf and Arab countries easily.
Idea came from i2u2 forum
The Indian Express report states that the idea of building a rail network came about during the last 18 months of discussions on the I2U2 forum. India, America, United Arab Emirates and Israel are in this forum.
The I2U2 forum was established in late 2021 to discuss strategic infrastructure projects in West Asia.
Keeping China in mind, Israel raised the idea of connecting the region through railways during the I2U2 meetings last year. The idea is to tap India’s expertise in this infrastructure project, a former Israeli official told Axios.
At the same time, the Biden administration had in recent months expanded the idea to include Saudi Arabian involvement. The initiative would involve connecting the Arab countries in the Levant and the Gulf through a network of railways, which would also connect to India through ports in the Gulf. Therefore, this rail network will prove to be very beneficial for India.
America’s Addition on I2U2
US NSA Jack Sullivan gave a speech on Thursday during an event at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, in which he hinted about the project. He stated that “If you remember nothing else from my speech, remember I2U2, because you’re going to be hearing a lot of it as we go along”.