Iran-Israel War Threatens IMEC: India's West Asia Strategy at Crossroads

• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), launched at G20 2023, aims to link India to Europe via the Gulf and Israel, offering an alternative to China's BRI.
• A potential Iran-Israel conflict poses a significant threat to IMEC's viability, risking physical infrastructure and forcing India to reassess its West Asia strategy.
• Conflict could disrupt key logistical nodes in Israel and Gulf states, destabilize maritime routes, and impact India's energy security due to reliance on Gulf oil.
• Iran views IMEC as a geopolitical bypass and may counter by strengthening INSTC or employing asymmetric strategies to raise project costs.
• India faces a delicate balancing act, maintaining ties with Israel, Gulf states, and Iran, while seeking to diversify routes and ensure regional stability for IMEC's future.