Israel Fears New 'Silk Road' Linking Saudi Arabia and Turkey

Israel is reportedly growing fearful over a new ‘Silk Road’ connecting the Gulf to Europe through Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. Israeli officials are reportedly lobbying the administration of United States President Donald Trump to oppose the proposal. According to the report, senior figures within Israel’s governing coalition have intensified contacts with officials in Washington in an effort to persuade the US government to intervene against the initiative. The report claims that Israeli officials believe the corridor could weaken Israel’s strategic and economic position by diverting regional trade flows away from Israeli infrastructure. In discussions with the US, Israeli officials have argued that the project could also negatively impact the interests of key American partners, including India and Israel. The report also stated that Israeli policymakers are concerned this initiative could strengthen economic cooperation among Sunni-majority regional states, thereby creating a new geopolitical alignment that would diminish Israel’s regional influence. Some Israeli officials believe the corridor could reduce the strategic importance of the Port of Haifa and compete with transport initiatives previously promoted by the United States in partnership with India and the United Arab Emirates. The opposition has reportedly gained support from several Republican members of Congress and political figures in Washington. According to the report, congressional offices received a number of messages from individuals identified as pro-Israel supporters expressing concern that the proposed corridor could weaken Israel’s regional standing and affect broader US strategic interests in the Middle East. Neither the Israeli government nor the White House has publicly commented on the reported lobbying efforts. Details of the proposed trade corridor, including funding, implementation timeline, and participating countries, have not been officially announced.