US, Saudi Arabia, UAE and India to Discuss Possibility of Rail Infrastructure Linking Gulf States and Arab Countries

mention locationAxiosThe American said that the United States, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates and India intend to discuss a possible project for infrastructure linking the Gulf states and the Arab countries through a network of railways with India through shipping lanes from ports in the region.

And the site quoted two sources with direct knowledge of the plan that national security advisers from the four countries will discuss the project, on Sunday, at a meeting in Saudi Arabia.

The two sources told Axios that White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who is expected to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, will meet with his Saudi, Emirati and Indian counterparts on Sunday to discuss the project and other regional issues.

The site indicated that the idea for the project emerged during talks held over the past 18 months at a forum called the “I2U2 Group”, which includes the United States, Israel, the UAE and India, according to the two sources.

The forum was established in late 2021 and aims to discuss strategic infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

The project is one of the main initiatives that the White House wants in the Middle East in light of China’s increasing influence in the region, as the Middle East is an essential part of China’s vision of the Belt and Road.

During the I2U2 meetings last year, Israel put forward the idea aimed at using India’s experience in large infrastructure projects, according to an Israeli official who participated in the talks, and the administration of US President Joe Biden expanded the project idea to include Saudi Arabia.

The initiative includes linking the Arab countries in the Levant and the Gulf through a network of railways, which will also link India through seaports in the Gulf.

The Indian, Emirati and Saudi embassies in Washington did not respond to requests from Axios for comment on the information provided by the two sources.

Axios indicated that Israel is not part of this initiative at the present time, but it may join it in the future if progress is made in efforts to normalize its relations with the countries of the region.