Towards a New Discourse on Global Connectivity: The Gulf’s New Horizons in Strategic Corridors and Partnerships

In partnership with the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, the Gulf International Forum is pleased to co-host a two-day workshop titled “Towards a New Discourse of Global Connectivity: The Gulf’s New Horizons in Strategic Corridors and Partnerships.” This timely initiative seeks to examine the transformative role of the Gulf region in a rapidly evolving global landscape shaped by competing connectivity projects.

At the heart of this discussion are major infrastructure and trade initiatives—including China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and Iraq’s Development Road—that collectively reposition the Gulf as a critical hub for energy, logistics, and strategic influence between Asia, Europe, and Africa. These corridors are not only economic lifelines but also instruments of geopolitical competition and cooperation, with the Gulf states emerging as key players in shaping the direction of regional and global integration.

The workshop will explore how China’s deepening engagement with the Gulf, including its proposed $600 billion strategic partnership with GCC states and Iran, is redefining the balance of power in the region. At the same time, the U.S.-backed IMEC and Iraq’s Development Road project are positioning themselves as viable alternatives to traditional trade routes such as the Suez Canal.