Israeli Foreign Minister (FM) Israel Katz thanked India for its “friendship and support” and spoke with Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar about regional security during a phone conversation on Monday, wherein they also discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia and its implications.
Jaishankar, Katz Discuss Regional Security
“Had a good conversation today with the Indian foreign minister in which I expressed my gratitude for his friendship and support of Israel”, Katz said in a post on X. “We discussed regional security threats including security of shipping and regional projects which connect India with the Middle East,” he added.
Katz highlighted that he also discussed the urgency of rescuing those taken hostage by Hamas. “I invited His Excellency [Jaishankar] to visit Israel to continue our good talk,” he said in the post.
Similarly, Jaishankar said that it was “good to talk to Israeli FM,” and agreed to stay in touch with his counterpart. “Discussed the ongoing situation in West Asia. Spoke about India’s views, assessments and interests in that regard,” he wrote on X.
The telephone conversation between the ministers follows an earlier conversation between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian PM Narendra Modi. In November, the two leaders discussed ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters, particularly the Bab al-Mandab strait, which is under threat from Iran-backed Houthi aggression.
Had a good conversation today with Indian foreign minister @DrSJaishankar in which I expressed my gratitude for his friendship and support of Israel. We discussed regional security threats including security of shipping and regional projects which connect India with the Middle… pic.twitter.com/9A8CmUiGFj
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) January 29, 2024
Regional Security Concerns
According to reports, the foreign ministers focused on pressing regional security issues, including the need to safeguard the security of shipping channels, especially in light of disruptions caused by Houthi attacks on commerical shipping in the Red Sea.
These disruptions have not only caused economic concerns and higher prices for essential goods but also pose a serious danger to regional peace and stability. Furthermore, the ongoing attacks on shipping lines have the potential to hinder the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) initiative.
IMEC
Modi unveiled plans for the IMEC megaproject at the G20 New Delhi Summit in September. The project is a critical component of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment. India and other G20 countries have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form the IMEC, which will promote economic development through greater connectivity and integration.
According to the official statement, the IMEC would be categorised into two corridors: the eastern corridor, which connects India to the Arabian Gulf, and the northern corridor, which connects the Arabian Gulf to Europe. The corridor will include a railway, which, once operational, will provide a dependable and affordable cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routes, allowing goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe.
The development of the IMEC can also be seen as a strategic response to Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has boosted Chinese influence in Asia, Africa, and Europe.