US plans to build a large railway to connect Saudi Arabia, India and UAE

The USA, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and India are contemplating the development of a collaborative infrastructure project that would interconnect Gulf and Arab nations through a comprehensive railway network, further extending to India through maritime routes. The proposal for this ambitious infrastructure initiative is anticipated to be deliberated upon during a meeting of the national security advisers (NSAs) from these countries, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia.

Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, is purportedly orchestrating the gathering of NSAs from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and India, and is expected to champion the advancement of this transformative concept. Interestingly, the genesis of this joint infrastructure program can be traced back over 18 months to the I2U2 forum, which includes key players such as India, Israel, the US, and the UAE. Formed in late 2021, the I2U2 forum was established to explore strategic infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

During a recent address at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Sullivan alluded to the continuity of discussions initiated within the I2U2 forum, signalling a proactive approach towards realizing this visionary cross-border infrastructure initiative. The proposal would involve building a network of railways to link Arab nations in the Levant and the Gulf with India via Gulf seaports.