Trump and Modi Discuss Trade Route Through Israel, Boost to Arms Sales
The United States and India have agreed to collaborate on a major trade corridor connecting South Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, with Israel as a waypoint on the route, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday during a press conference at the White House with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the US, connecting our partners, roads, railways, and undersea cables,” President Trump said, calling it “one of the greatest trade routes in history.”
The project is intended to bolster economic ties among allied nations and counter China’s growing influence on global trade.
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The initiative builds on plans first introduced in 2023 under then-President Joe Biden, which aimed to link India to Europe through the Middle East, including Israel. According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, the corridor is also designed to provide an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure project that has expanded Beijing’s economic influence.
President Trump also announced an expansion of US military sales to India, stating that Washington would increase arms exports by billions of dollars starting in 2025. He also said that the US would eventually provide India with F-35 stealth fighter jets, though he did not offer a specific timeline.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later noted that New Delhi has not yet begun the formal process for acquiring the fighter jets.
Since 2008, India has agreed to purchase more than $20 billion in US defense products, including drones and aircraft, as part of its broader military modernization efforts.
