Emirates, Saudi Arabia, US and India discuss regional integration

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan travelled to Saudi Arabia this weekend to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss issues of common interest, such as the peace process in Yemen and evacuations from Sudan. During his visit to the Kingdom, Sullivan also participated in a joint meeting with his Saudi, Emirati and Indian counterparts to promote regional integration and strengthening of relations.

During the talks, a possible joint infrastructure project was mooted to connect the Arab and Gulf countries through a rail network that would also be connected to India, two sources told Axios. According to the media outlet, the plan emerged during a meeting of the so-called I2U2 forum and is one of the key initiatives Washington wants to push in the Middle East to counter China's growing influence in the region. The I2U2 alliance is made up of the US, the United Arab Emirates, India and Israel, and since 2021 it has been working on cooperation in different areas such as energy, water, transport, health and food security. 

The Middle East is a fundamental part of the well-known Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) designed by Beijing. In addition to trade and economics, the Asian giant is emerging as a diplomatic intermediary between the region's warring countries. After sponsoring the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China has also expressed its willingness to act as a mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Although the US has recently focused more on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East remains a key area for the White House, and Washington is developing plans to defend its interests in the region and to counter the influence of other powers. 

In addition to the rail network, the four countries discussed diversification of supply chains and investment in strategic infrastructure projects, including ports, as Bloomberg noted. The media - based on sources - also indicated that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken himself plans to visit Saudi Arabia in June to participate in a meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh.

In addition to Gulf-India integration, the situation in Yemen took centre stage during Sullivan's trip to the Kingdom. The White House recently praised Riyadh's efforts to bring an end to the war in the country after nearly nine years.

Last April, Saudi-led negotiations began in Yemen to push for a peace process. As a result, 877 prisoners were exchanged between the two sides in the war: the Iranian-backed Houthis and the internationally recognised government backed by Riyadh. Similarly, the Saudi ambassador to the country, Mohammed Al Jaber, visited the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana'a, for talks with the authorities. 

During their meeting, Sullivan and Bin Salman "discussed processes in the talks to further consolidate the 15-month-old truce and UN efforts to end the war," a US statement said.

Prior to Sullivan, US special envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking travelled to the Gulf to monitor developments in Yemen. In particular, he visited Oman and Saudi Arabia, where he met with senior officials from both countries and Yemenis. "The United States is working closely with the UN, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and other partners to support an inclusive Yemeni-led political process," the US State Department said at the time.

Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra