Athens, Greece. The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is being promoted as a major geo-economic initiative aimed at strengthening connectivity between Asia and Europe through transport, energy and digital infrastructure. Plamen Tonchev of the Institute of International Economic Relations said the project also carries geopolitical weight but remains a long-term undertaking.
Project scope and objectives
IMEC is envisioned as a network of railways, ports, energy links and digital infrastructure stretching from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean and onward to Europe. The stated aim is to facilitate trade while reinforcing the resilience of global supply chains.
Tonchev said the plan includes constructing railway lines crossing the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel, effectively linking the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean. A proposal has also been raised to build a pipeline for transporting green hydrogen.
Geopolitical implications and Cyprus
Tonchev said IMEC’s significance extends beyond economics, creating new areas of competition and strategic opportunity across the Mediterranean. He said Cyprus could upgrade its geostrategic positioning if it leverages its maritime and energy assets effectively.
Status, financing and implementation challenges
Tonchev said IMEC remains a blueprint under discussion and that there is not yet a clear picture of routes, participating parties, the legal framework for investments, or sources of financing. He cautioned that high financial costs, complex coordination among multiple states and persistent instability in the Middle East suggest the project will advance gradually, describing it as “a marathon rather than a sprint”.
Links to broader strategic competition
Tonchev said many analysts initially interpreted IMEC as a response to China’s growing influence when it was presented in 2023 at the G20 summit in New Delhi. He noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend that summit and that information had already circulated regarding the proposal’s adoption.
He added that India has not joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but said IMEC’s rationale is not solely tied to objections to the Chinese-inspired “New Silk Road” or to wider geopolitical rivalry between the West and China. He described IMEC as a complementary corridor for transport, energy and telecommunications intended to enhance supply chain resilience between Asia and Europe.
What do you think would be the biggest obstacle to implementing IMEC as currently envisaged?
