The above are two maps of the BRI and the very earth shaking India, ME, EU Corridor. The Indians and the Americans are using their megaphones to scream to the world that the Biden Modi Mirage is to challenge Xi's BRI. And their gloating all over G20 that this is a game changer and China's BRI is in trouble because of this impressive challenge. Really?
The India, ME, EU Corridor starts from the port of Mumbai, leaps to the port in UAE. From there it cuts across Saudi Arabia to Israel. Then from the Israeli port it leaps to the Greece port Piraeus. And then it joins the BRI's rail link into Europe. What is new?
Lets see what the construction of this Corridor involves. The first leg, Mumbai to UAE port. The two ports are already existing, so is the shipping route. Nothing to build, just a statement of fact. The second leg, from UAE port to Israeli port across the Saudi desert. This is new, to build a high speed train across the desert. Who should build this high speed train track and infrastructure? India, Japan or the USA? The USA would need 30 years to build such a train system. Japan would want the contract but would they do the same as they did in India and Vietnam? Maybe India is a better bet?
The third leg, from Israelis port to Piraeus port is the same as from Mumbai port to UAE port, already existing and nothing to build, only to talk as if it is something new.
The final leg from Piraeus to Europe would be like rejoining China's BRI. Piraeus is a Greek port with China as a majority shareholder. And China has already developed the infrastructure from the port to Europe. So what is there to build?
So, is this Corridor a game changer or Mirage? What is there to transport from India across the Saudi desert to Europe and vice versa? Indian labourers?
How many countries are involved in this grand scheme of Biden and Modi? How is it to challenge Xi's BRI?
Please understand the limitation of India as it cannot build a road or rail through Pakistan in the West, not through Bangladesh and Myanmar in the East, not to China in the North. India is an island of sort unless it builds bridges over Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar or the Himalayas. Oops, India does not want to go to China. What about a bridge across the sea from Mumbai to UAE with a high speed train travelling on it and then another bridge from the port in Israel to the port of Piraeus? On the other hand China is building trains into Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Central Asia states and Russia, with Vietnam begging China to take over the failed Japanese train project.
Why are most of the Arab countries left out of this Biden Modi Mirage?
PS. To include Saudi Arabia and UAE in this Mirage is American's way to pry Saudi Arabia and UAE away from BRICS. Another American divide and rule scheme to divide the Arab world. And Modi is an active player in this scheme, to keep Arab and Muslim countries out of BRICS.