Countering China: Its far-reaching geo-political ramifications

The announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor at the recently concluded G20 Summit in Delhi has been seen by international strategy experts as a significant development in contemporary times that has the potential to cause far-reaching geo-political ramifications in the years to come. Experts who appreciate India’s emerging role as a major global player in recent years have already described the signing of the Memoran-dum of Understanding relating to the Corridor as a significant milestone in global economic and political dynam-ics. The Corridor, it may be recalled, intends to strengthen economic development by improving connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe. At the same time, it has also been considered a strategic response of the highest order to China’s much-touted Belt and Road Initiative, which has of late expand-ed the influence of Beijing across Asia, Africa, and Europe. What is, however, equally significant is that the launch of the Economic Corridor signed at the G20 Summit in Delhi is now seen as part of a major global shift in eco-nomic and geo-political power politics, especially with India being positioned in the heart of this strategic corri-dor. This puts India on par with China in the fast-changing geo-political developments and attains further signifi-cance in that Israel, which had been in conflict with the Arab world for a long time, has been made part of this economic corridor. Simultaneously, it also brings to the fore that there has been a monumental shift in Middle Eastern dynamics. The fact that this corridor will directly connect Israel with the Arab neighbourhood, promot-ing economic cooperation and fostering a more interconnected Middle East, has also been regarded by experts on global geopolitics as a new development that was not even imagined in recent times.