The India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor: U.S. Interests and Opportunities

In recent years, the rivalry between the United States and China has intensified. New areas of competition related to the industrial and technological race are becoming increasingly important, including in the field of international transport corridors and large infrastructure projects. The initiative to create the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Transport Corridor (IMEC), proposed by the U.S. and European countries in 2023, reflects strategic interests and aims to counter the growing influence of China, and acts as an alternative to China's One Belt, One Road (BRI) infrastructure project. The U.S. seeks to remain a key player in the Middle East not only through its military presence but also through diplomatic partnerships, creating a network of alliances in the region along with political and financial support for the development of transport infrastructure. The author argues that IMEC envisages the integration of India, the Middle East, and Europe by increasing trade volumes through facilitating the movement of goods at the border and reducing overall trade costs. At the same time, the implementation of this project faces a number of problems, including the unresolved Palestinian issue, the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, the reluctance of the Middle Eastern countries to become involved in the Sino-American rivalry. The success of IMEC will largely depend on the ability of its participants to cope with differences and expectations, as well as to find a balance between competition and cooperation.

economic corridor, IMEC, One Belt, One Road, strategic competition, international markets, Middle East, USA, China, EU, India, Russia