Israel Advances Strategic Land Route Through Gulf States to Reduce Hormuz Strait Dependence
Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen revealed that senior Israeli officials have already met with counterparts in Gulf countries to promote a land-based trade and energy corridor connecting Israel and Europe. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz within four to five years by establishing alternative routes through Gulf states and Israel, extending toward Europe.
The envisioned corridor, known as IMEC, will integrate railways, trucking routes, energy pipelines, electricity grids, fiber optics, and other logistics infrastructure. This network is designed to transform the Middle East from a region of conflict into a strategic hub linking Asian and European economies. Israel’s participation also seeks to provide a secure alternative to vulnerable maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb, and the Suez Canal.
On the western end, Israel plans to strengthen connections with Europe via Cyprus and Greece, with potential future extensions to Italy and France. This project is not only economic but also strategic, aiming to solidify long-term regional partnerships among Israel, Gulf states, India, and Europe.
However, there is competition over the corridor’s route, with Turkey promoting alternative pathways through Central Asia to enhance its role as a transport and energy nexus between Asia and Europe. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates is deepening its involvement in Jordan, exemplified by a $2.3 billion joint investment to build a 360-kilometer railway linking Jordan’s phosphate mining areas to the port of Aqaba, signed in April 2026. The UAE also holds a 30-year concession to operate the Aqaba port and has invested in tourism and customs infrastructure in Jordan.
This growing UAE-Jordan-Israel cooperation aims to create a continuous logistics chain from the Gulf through Jordan into Israel, facilitating cargo movement to Haifa port and potentially through southern routes via Eilat and Gaza if political and security conditions permit. Full realization of IMEC could significantly shorten transport times between Asia and Europe and reduce vulnerability to disruptions in maritime chokepoints, thereby enhancing Israel’s economic and strategic standing in the region.
