New Delhi: Making India-US bilateral relationship to next level From Wednesday’s two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States to a better relationship with the world’s most significant destination for tackling global issues. During his visit, Modi will also discuss key issues with US President Donald Trump, including defence cooperation and countering China’s growing economic and military influence.
The visit comes at a critical juncture when the two countries are looking to expand their focus and enhance their strategic partnership in various fields. Much attention will be devoted to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a game-changing project to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). IMEC is more than a trade route—it is a strategic effort to strengthen India’s technology and chemical base while decreasing dependency on Chinese-dominated supply chains.
IMEC: A Game Changer in International Trade
The IMEC corridor spans 4,500 kilometres and will link India with Europe through the Middle East. It will enhance the resilience of global supply chains and counter the threats emerging from China’s control over critical maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca, Hormuz Strait, and Bab-el-Mandeb. This project will likely offer India a geographical earthing, particularly as the Adani Group has made considerable investments in Haifa Port in Israel.
Adani Group, a significant energy, infrastructure, and logistics player, has over 70% stake in the Haifa Port terminal. This investment consolidates India-Israel relations and immediately scales India up into a central Mediterranean player, in line with IMEC’s overarching objectives.
Countering China’s Influence
The talks between PM Modi and President Trump would also cover the growing Chinese influence in the Middle East and its indirect backing to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. A Center for International Maritime Security report stated that Iran provides fourth-generation Chinese-made weapons to the Houthis, which are financed through China’s significant purchases of oil from Iran, indirectly paying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This visit highlights the deepening India–US cooperation in global security and rebalancing economies. With both countries seeking to balance China’s aspirations with aspiration, PM Modi’s visit is expected to further boost India-US ties towards a stable and secure global order.