India-Middle East-Europe Corridor via Suez Canal Announced at 2023 G20 Summit Amid Trump’s Foreign Policy Shift and India’s Diplomacy Recalibration

The India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), announced at the 2023 G20 Summit, is set to establish a new era of global trade routes by linking India, the Middle East, and Europe. Central to this corridor is the Suez Canal in Egypt, positioning the country as a pivotal player in the success of the India-Europe connectivity vision. Cities such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Cairo are emerging as key architects in shaping a new world order through this initiative. IMEC represents a strategic investment in fostering a more connected and resilient global order amid ongoing uncertainties. Concurrently, shifts in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump emphasize a departure from strategic altruism, focusing instead on prioritization and energizing allies rather than reassuring them. This approach, often described as following the Nixon Doctrine by relying on regional partners like Israel, is viewed as insufficient against challenges posed by China. For India, this evolving geopolitical landscape demands recalibrated diplomacy, moving beyond its traditional non-interventionist stance outside its immediate neighborhood. Experts suggest that New Delhi must embrace delayed reciprocity in its partnership with Washington, delivering tangible benefits without expecting immediate returns. Additionally, India is urged to sustain its role in health diplomacy by leveraging expertise and advocating for reforms within the World Health Organization, including clearer Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) criteria and funding transparency to enhance cooperation within the Global South. Overall, India is both shaping and being shaped by regional dynamics, leveraging trust, shared history, and people-to-people ties to navigate this new diplomatic paradigm.