Trump linked the push for alternative energy routes to attacks on commercial shipping and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday backed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying the Middle East needs to move energy infrastructure away from routes vulnerable to disruption by Iran.
Speaking at a meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump linked the push for alternative energy routes to attacks on commercial shipping and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran’s terrorist attacks on commercial shipping in neighboring countries have shown the need to shift Middle East energy infrastructure away from the Iranian checkpoints,” Trump said.
“That’s why my administration strongly supports the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and other places in the form of getting oil out, whether it’s pipelines or anything else,” he added.
The remarks come as the Iran war continues to disrupt energy and shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chokepoint. Around 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait in 2025, while LNG flows through the route accounted for almost 20% of global LNG trade.
Hormuz Disruption Drives Search For Alternatives
The conflict, which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has severely disrupted shipping through the strait. Vessel traffic has fallen sharply, forcing Gulf producers and global buyers to look for alternative routes for transporting oil and gas.
The disruption has also increased concerns over global energy supplies and prices, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining one of the world’s most important routes for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Trump said the region was now close to overcoming challenges that had affected it for decades.
“Together, we’re on the verge of overcoming challenges that have plagued this region for decades,” he said.
What Is IMEC?
Unveiled at the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, IMEC is a multi-modal connectivity project linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe through two corridors.