Shruti Suman
US President Joe Biden has suggested that one of the potential reasons for Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th was the recent announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. This corridor aims to connect the entire region through a network of railways, roads, and ports.
Biden said that “I believe that one of the important factors that prompted Hamas to launch their attack, although I don’t have concrete evidence for this, is the progress we were making towards regional integration for Israel and the broader region. We can’t abandon this important work.”
The President made these comments during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, held on Wednesday (US local time).
At the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, several countries, including the USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
This corridor aims to boost economic development by improving connectivity and economic integration between Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, according to reliable sources.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will comprise two separate corridors: the East corridor linking India to West Asia/Middle East and the Northern corridor connecting West Asia/Middle East to Europe.
It will feature a railway line that, once completed, will offer a dependable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transportation network, complementing existing multi-modal transport routes to enhance the transshipment of goods and services from Southeast Asia through India to West Asia/Middle East and Europe.
Biden has recently praised the corridor project, emphasizing its potential to generate investment opportunities spanning two continents. He sees the railway port project as part of a broader effort to create a more sustainable and integrated Middle East.
Meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has entered its 20th day. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his goal in the Hamas war as “saving the nation” and has promised that a ground incursion to eliminate Hamas in Gaza will commence soon. He did not disclose specific details regarding the timing or approach of the operation but emphasized that this discretion is essential to protect the lives of Israeli soldiers.
In an address to the nation, Prime Minister Netanyahu underscored that Israel is currently engaged in a battle for its survival, with two primary objectives: “to eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governance capabilities and to do everything possible to secure the return of our hostages.”
