The United States’ strategy for countering the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ambitious “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) has faced significant setbacks due to escalating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. These developments suggest an increasing Chinese influence with implications for the balance of power. Central to the U.S. strategy is the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a project that aims to offer an alternative to China’s expansive infrastructure network. However, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, along with the disruptive actions of Yemen’s Houthis in key Red Sea shipping lanes, has severely hampered the progress of IMEC.
High-profile signatories, including Saudi Arabia, the European Union, India, the UAE, France, Germany, and Italy, have aligned with the United States, committing to a joint effort in the project. IMEC features two primary corridors: the Eastern Corridor, which connects India with the Arabian Gulf, and the Northern Corridor, linking the Arabian Gulf with Europe. The project envisions a robust ship-rail transport network that complements existing maritime and road routes. Its completion is expected to bolster regional supply chain security and enhance trade efficiency. The United States views IMEC as a multipurpose strategic asset not only as a counterbalance to China’s influence in the “Global South” but also as a catalyst for fostering closer ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Carl Schuster, outlined the project’s logistical hurdles. He mentioned that the route necessitates navigation through either the Iran-dominated Strait of Hormuz or the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen and Eritrea. A proposed railway traversing Iraq would require coordination with Iran and Pakistan to reach India, Mr. Schuster explained. The Israel-Hamas conflict and the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have impeded IMEC’s progress, resulting in an indirect benefit to the CCP as the U.S. has initiated multiple countermeasures.
The BRI, launched in 2013 by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has evolved significantly since its inception, expanding its reach globally. In response, the United States has initiated several countermeasures, with the Biden administration introducing the “Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment” initiative. A key component of this counter-strategy is IMEC, designed to connect India, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe through an integrated network of rail and shipping lines. However, the ongoing conflict and the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have impeded IMEC’s progress, inadvertently benefiting the CCP.
Recent investigations have raised questions about the origins of the weaponry used by Houthis. Chinese military bloggers have suggested that the anti-ship weapons used by the Houthis may have originated from China. This speculation is supported by an incident in 2013, wherein the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Farragut and the Yemeni Coast Guard intercepted a shipment of weapons heading to Yemen, with markings indicating they were produced by the China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation.