On-ground conditions in West Asia continue to evolve rapidly, leaving outside governments and businesses a step behind. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced in 2023 as India's answer to single-chokepoint dependence, has advanced furthest on its India-UAE leg even the rest of the project remains stalled on account of funding constraints and security concerns. The Iran War and the resulting pressure on the Strait of Hormuz have sharpened questions about the corridor's Gulf leg, while the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement (signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in August) has added a new security grouping along the route. 

In this session, Ambassador Navdeep Suri will draw on 3 years of work focused closely on West Asia, and on earlier postings in the UAE, Egypt, Washington and Cairo, to unpack what the region's realignment means for Indian business. He will examine how far the India-UAE corridor has progressed; what the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement changes for India's standing in the Gulf; and where the deepening India-UAE relationship is headed next.