US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Saudi Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, lending credence to reports that the three Asian countries are collaborating to build a major railway network.
According to the American news website Axios, the US is discussing plans for a railway network in the Middle East as one of its key initiatives to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
According to a White House press release, the leaders and NSA officials met “in Saudi Arabia to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the rest of the world.”
According to Axios, which cited two unnamed sources, the major joint infrastructure project would connect Arab countries via a network of railways that would also connect to India via shipping lanes from regional ports. According to a US official, the project will be one of many topics discussed during the visit.
