India-Middle East Economic Corridor deal in jeopardy amid Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza
- Economic corridor to connect India with Europe, through the Middle East.
- The trade pact was announced last September at the G20 summit.
- The agreement will foster cooperation between India and the UAE, says the Ministry of External Affairs.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his trip to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday signed a trade corridor agreement, which aims to connect Europe with India through parts of the Middle East by sea and rail. D.W. reported.
The ambitious plan, supported by the United States and the European Union, was announced in a statement from the Indian Foreign Ministry, although few details were made public about what the parties had agreed to.
“This would build on previous understandings and cooperation on this matter and would foster cooperation between India and the UAE and promote regional connectivity,” the ministry statement said.
The corridor, announced last September at the G20 summit, aims to connect India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel with Europe.
However, the ministry only mentioned India and the United Arab Emirates, an Arab Gulf regional power with more than a century of trade ties.
The India-Middle East Economic Corridor deal is in jeopardy due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has slowed US-backed Israeli integration with Arab countries, and Saudi Arabia's suspension of normalization plans.
The UAE Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the details of the deal.
Modi met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, whom the Indian leader often refers to as his “brother.”
“Today our region is going through a difficult time, but thanks to our relationship with you, we are building a lot of hope and looking towards a future with India that is on par with our ambitions,” Sheikh Mohamed said in a meeting with Modi on Tuesday, according to a video shared on Modi's YouTube channel.
