Speaking at a multilateral Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, Trump linked a series of “terrorist attacks” on shipping in the region to the strategic need for alternative oil‑transport routes, saying the United States is ready to help shift pipelines and other infrastructure away from Iranian‑controlled points.
“Iran’s terrorist attacks on commercial shipping in neighbouring countries have shown the need to shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from the Iranian checkpoints,” the president said, adding that the United States is “strongly supportive” of the India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor and similar projects that can move oil through safer pathways.
The India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) was unveiled on Sept. 9, 2023, at the G20 summit in New Delhi. It is a multinational, multimodal connectivity initiative designed to boost trade, sustainability and transport links across South Asia, West Asia and Europe through a network of roads, railways, ports and pipelines.
Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in West Asia, where a string of strikes and security incidents have disrupted commercial shipping lanes. By endorsing the corridor, the administration signals a willingness to back infrastructure that could reduce reliance on routes vulnerable to Iranian interference.
U.S. officials have not detailed specific assistance, but the president’s statement suggests future diplomatic or financial backing for projects that diversify energy supply chains and enhance regional connectivity.