YEREVAN, Armenia — On September 23, the American University of Armenia (AUA) hosted a discussion examining the geopolitical and geo-economic implications of emerging economic corridors in the Middle East and the role of the United States in shaping the region’s evolving order. The event was organized by the Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy program and the Turpanjian Institute of Social Sciences within AUA’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The discussion was led by Yeghia Tashjian, Regional and International Affairs Cluster coordinator at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut.
A central focus of the discussion was the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the 2023 G20 Summit. The initiative envisions enhanced connectivity between India, the Middle East, and Europe and has emerged as an important topic in discussions about infrastructure, trade, connectivity, and geopolitical competition. Tashjian examined IMEC in the broader context of the changing regional and international order, discussing the growing importance of economic connectivity and infrastructure diplomacy as instruments of international influence. The discussion considered how the initiative has been viewed as a potential alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and how the United States has sought to strengthen its engagement with regional connectivity projects.
The discussion also explored the interests and responses of key Middle Eastern and regional powers, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel. Participants considered how these states may approach emerging corridor projects based on their respective economic, strategic, and geopolitical interests.
Beyond IMEC, the event examined alternative economic corridor initiatives and the emerging fault lines surrounding regional connectivity. Particular attention was given to how competing infrastructure projects intersect with broader geopolitical dynamics, including U.S.-Iranian tensions, China’s expanding economic engagement, and efforts to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties between Israel and Arab states.
The discussion highlighted that economic corridors are not solely infrastructure projects but can also have broader implications for regional connectivity, strategic partnerships, trade routes, and the distribution of influence. By examining the intersection of infrastructure and geopolitics, the event provided participants with an opportunity to consider how connectivity initiatives may contribute to the transformation of the Middle East’s regional order and its place within an increasingly multipolar international system.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
