US President Donald Trump has expressed strong support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying the project could help lessen the region’s reliance on vulnerable energy routes amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump made the remarks on Tuesday during a multilateral meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Trump’s comments have renewed focus on a project unveiled with significant ambitions in 2023 but subsequently hit by major geopolitical challenges, including the Israel-Hamas war and the broader conflict involving Iran. Referring to attacks on commercial vessels, Trump said critical Middle East energy infrastructure needed to be moved away from Iranian “checkpoints”.
“Iran's terrorist attacks on commercial shipping in neighbouring countries have shown the need to shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from the Iranian checkpoints,” Trump said.
“That is why my administration strongly supports the India-Middle East Economic Corridor and other places to get oil out, whether it is pipeline or anything else. Together we are on the verge of overcoming challenges that have plagued this region for a decade,” he added.
WHAT EXACTLY IS IMEC?
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is a proposed trade and infrastructure network designed to connect India with Gulf countries and, eventually, European markets through a mix of maritime and land routes. The project was formally launched at the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signed a memorandum setting out the broad framework for the corridor.
The plan consists of two principal sections.
The eastern corridor is expected to connect India with the Arabian Gulf, while a northern corridor would then connect the Gulf region with Europe.
Under the proposed system, goods would be transported by sea from India to the UAE and then moved through regional rail and other transport infrastructure. The route was planned to run through Saudi Arabia and Jordan towards Israel and the Mediterranean, from where shipments could continue by sea to European destinations.
IMEC is designed to do more than transport goods.
Its initial framework also included plans for electricity and digital connectivity cables along the corridor, along with infrastructure to support clean hydrogen exports.
Trump’s renewed endorsement comes as regional trade and energy supplies face heightened uncertainty. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints for energy shipments, and any extended disruption could affect the flow of oil and other energy supplies between Gulf producers and global markets. The conflict involving Iran has highlighted these vulnerabilities.
WHY IMEC MATTERS TO INDIA
For India, IMEC carries both economic and strategic significance.
India has extensive trade ties with both Gulf nations and Europe. A dedicated multimodal corridor could create an additional route for transporting Indian products to European markets. By combining maritime transportation with rail connectivity, the project is also intended to improve efficiency compared with relying solely on longer sea routes.
Such connectivity could potentially cut both transit times and transportation costs between India and Europe while strengthening commercial ties linking South Asia, the Gulf and Europe.
The corridor also has an energy dimension.
Plans for electricity and digital cables, along with infrastructure for clean hydrogen, make IMEC much broader than a conventional freight route. The initiative is intended to establish an integrated network spanning transportation, energy and digital connectivity.
The project could also enable India to further expand its economic relationships with major Gulf economies and European markets.
IMEC has often been discussed in comparison with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as both involve large infrastructure and connectivity projects spanning several countries. However, IMEC is a separate initiative, supported by a different group of nations and following a distinct geographical route.
WHERE DOES IMEC STAND NOW?
The announcement of IMEC in 2023 was followed within weeks by a dramatic change in the regional geopolitical landscape.
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the ensuing war in Gaza significantly changed regional calculations.
The broader diplomatic situation involving Saudi Arabia and Israel was also affected. Saudi-Israeli normalisation had formed an important part of the wider regional environment surrounding IMEC’s development, but the Gaza war disrupted that process. The proposed corridor itself passes through a politically sensitive region of West Asia, with the planned route involving the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel.
As a result, the project's advancement depends not just on financing and engineering but also on political stability and cooperation between countries that have experienced repeated regional conflicts.
The subsequent escalation involving Iran introduced further uncertainty.
An Asia House assessment published in August 2026 said IMEC had stalled and was facing substantial challenges, while noting that India remained committed to the initiative. It also highlighted the effects of the Iran conflict and uncertainty over Saudi Arabia’s involvement.
Despite these political and security obstacles, IMEC has not officially been abandoned.
The project’s official website stated in April 2025 that the initiative was advancing according to its planned schedule, with work progressing on transportation and logistics infrastructure.
“As of April 2025, the IMEC project is progressing according to the scheduled timelines, with major developments underway in the construction of transportation and logistics infrastructure. Further updates will be shared on this website as the project progresses,” the official IMEC website said.
TRUMP'S IRAN WARNING
Trump’s remarks supporting IMEC were accompanied by another strong warning directed at Iran.
Repeating points he had made earlier during his address to the UN General Assembly, the US President said Iran had been financially isolated and warned that Tehran could eventually face an existential threat.
“We've isolated Iran financially, and hopefully they'll do the right thing fast...There will be a time when it's too late, and we won't have the chance of letting them survive as a nation. I would like to see that, and I can tell you that people around this table would like to see it,” he said.
Trump also mentioned the US military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities last year, claiming that Iran’s nuclear programme had been “obliterated” and was buried beneath mountains of rubble. His renewed support for IMEC therefore comes amid a much wider confrontation between the United States and Iran.
