New Delhi, India – President Biden, along with the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is likely to ink a railway deal to connect the Middle East during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a report published in Axios.com said.
The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive railway network connecting the Gulf and Arab nations while also facilitating connections to India through shipping routes from regional ports, the report said.
The primary objective of this project is to strengthen the United States’ presence and influence in the Middle East, especially as China’s role in the region continues to expand through its Belt and Road initiative.
This development is part of the Biden administration’s broader diplomatic efforts, which may include a potential normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel before the 2024 campaign season dominates the President’s agenda.
While the White House has refrained from commenting on the matter, negotiations for the announcement are reportedly still underway, and the project’s finalization remains pending, Axios.com said.
If the four nations successfully conclude negotiations within the next two days, their leaders are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding outlining the project’s parameters.
The railway project’s scope envisions connecting Arab countries in the Levant and the Gulf through an extensive railway network that will also provide connectivity to India via seaports in the Gulf region.
Moreover, if Saudi Arabia and Israel normalize their relations in the future, Israel could potentially join the railway project, expanding its reach into Europe through Israeli seaports.
The announcement of this project is likely to increase the likelihood of a bilateral meeting between President Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the G20 Summit, the report said.
The project’s origins trace back to discussions held over the past 18 months within a forum known as I2U2, which includes the US, Israel, the UAE, and India. This forum was established in late 2021 with the goal of addressing strategic infrastructure projects in the Middle East and countering China’s growing influence in the region.
Israel initially proposed the idea of connecting the region through railways during I2U2 meetings, leveraging India’s expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects. Subsequently, the Biden administration expanded on this concept to incorporate Saudi Arabia’s participation.