EU Expansion Stalls Amid Wars and Global Rivalries

Geopolitics determines the EU's future shape and size

Just one month before the October 7th attacks in Israel, the G20 convened in India. The event's highlight was “IMEC” (India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor). This new geoeconomic corridor, funded by the US, would connect India with Europe via the Middle East. The trade link would create a new chain between India (Asia), Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel (Middle East), and Greece (Europe). At that time, nobody knew that in a few weeks, one of the most disruptive geopolitical events would occur in Israel, putting IMEC’s future up in the air.

When IMEC was announced, there was big, unexpected friction with Turkey. Ankara was furious for two reasons. First, IMEC completely bypassed it, which Turkey viewed as unacceptable. Second, Turkey has its own corridor called the “Iraq Development Road Project” to reconfigure trade between Asia and Europe.

For Turkey, IMEC’s announcement was no small event. It was so significant it would ricochet back to EU expansion.