Revisiting the contours of the evolving Middle Eastern order through the India-Middle East-EU Corridor: mapping India’s scopes and limitations

ABSTRACT

The article deals with the complication of the narratives surrounding the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Its political overtones exude economic cooperation and security superficially on the edges of evolving regional order in the Middle East buttressed by the declining U.S. influence and China’s growing inroads, formulating a vacuum in the order for India to stretch its arms. The connotations invite three crucial points of contention seeking to understand the potential of the claims. First, how prepared are the Western constructs of the Arab-Israeli normalization to uphold India’s politico-economic security against its asymmetrical and limited resourcefulness compared to Arab countries, in addition to curbing Chinese advancement; second, if this corridor will turn out to be a critical reinforcement for India to consolidate its regional overtures to China; finally, whether it can outweigh India’s broader approach to a comprehensive connectivity framework concerning Eurasia and South Asia wherein Iran is central.

KEYWORDS:

• IMEC
• G20
• Arab-Israeli normalization
• BRI
• Asian connectivity
• India-West Asia relations

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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Notes on contributors

Debasish Das

Debasish Das is a Research Scholar in the area of India’s foreign policy in West Asia and has a Ph.D. in International Relations and Politics from the Central University of Kerala, India.