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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
International North-South Transport Corridor and Chabahar Port : Must-know for UPSC Exam
Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on International North South Transport Corridor and Chabahar port. (Relevance: Regional connectivity projects are an important part of the UPSC CSE syllabus. INSTC and Chabahar port have been in the news, and UPSC has previously asked questions on these projects; for instance, a question was asked on INSTC in prelims this year, and in prelims 2017, a question was asked on Chabahar port (do check it in the post-read questions); thus, it becomes essential to know about these projects.) The Israel-Iran conflict entered its fourth day on Monday with fresh missile exchanges. The recent escalation in Israel-Iran conflict has triggered serious concern among major stakeholders in the region, including India. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement urging both nations to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. Notably, a potential regional conflagration puts India's regional connectivity strategy like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the International North South Transport Corridor, and the Chabahar port at risk. Trade and commerce, energy imports, and Indian expatriates are other vital concerns for New Delhi. In this context, let's know about the International North South Transport Corridor and Chabahar port. 1. The International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which was initiated by Russia, India, and Iran, is a multi-modal transportation project linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and onward to northern Europe via St Petersburg in Russia. 2. This corridor aims to reduce transit times to about 25 days — 20 days fewer than the Suez Canal route — and cut freight costs by 30 per cent. 3. The INSTC envisages the movement of goods from Mumbai to Bandar Abbas in Iran by sea; from Bandar Abbas to Bandar-e-Anzali, an Iranian port on the Caspian Sea, by road; from Bandar-e-Anzali to Astrakhan, a Caspian port in the Russian Federation by ship across the Caspian Sea; and onward to other parts of the Russian Federation and Europe by rail. 1. Chabahar is a deep water port in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province. It is the Iranian port that is the closest to India, and is located in the open sea, providing easy and secure access for large cargo ships. The port is also part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor. 2. Chabahar is of strategic importance for India. It offers New Delhi an alternative route that bypasses Pakistan, which does not allow India land access for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia. 3. Modern Chabahar came into being in the 1970s, and Tehran realised the strategic importance of the port during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. 4. In 2002, Hassan Rouhani, who was Iran's National Security Advisor under President Syed Mohammad Khatami at the time, held discussions with his Indian counterpart Brajesh Mishra on developing the port, located 72 km west of Pakistan's Gwadar port. 5. In January 2003, President Khatami and then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee signed off on an ambitious roadmap of strategic cooperation. Among the key projects the two countries agreed on was Chabahar, which held the potential to link South Asia with the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Europe. 6. India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in April 2016, after which the Indian Shipping Ministry worked at a rapid pace towards developing the port. 7. The attitude of the Donald Trump administration towards Iran complicated matters after 2017, but South Block appeared determined to stay the course. New Delhi managed to get a waiver from the US for the Chabahar project, citing access to Afghanistan as a reason. 8. Later, in August 2023, Prime Minister Modi met with President Ebrahim Raisi in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, and discussed the pending long-term contract on Chabahar. The two leaders gave a clear political direction to finalise and sign the long-term contract. 9. Notably, on May 13 last year, India and Iran signed a 10-year contract to operate the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar. The long-term agreement was signed by Indian Ports Global Ltd (IPGL) and the Port & Maritime Organisation of Iran. 10. With the operationalisation of the long-term investment, Chabahar could potentially become an important hub to connect India with the landlocked countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan. However, to better realise its commercial and strategic potential, the development of the port must be integrated with the International North South Transport Corridor. 1. The IMEC is a landmark project announced during the G20 Leaders' event in New Delhi in 2023. It was aimed at stimulating economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. 2. It will have two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe, along with a railway route for supplementing trade exchanges between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe. 3. India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, the European Union and the United States signed an MoU for its development, linked to the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII). First announced in June 2021 during the G7 (or Group of Seven) summit in the UK, the PGII has been billed as an alternative funding source to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) without directly mentioning it. 4. In addition to the signatories to the MoU, Israel and Greece are two important nodal sites in IMEC who have expressed interest in joining the project. POST READ QUESTIONS (1) What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India? (UPSC CSE 2017) (a) India's trade with African countries will increase enormously. (b) India's relations with oil-producing Arab countries will be strengthened. (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia. (d) Pakistan will facilitate and protect the installation of a gas pipeline between Iraq and India. (2) India is one of the founding members of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a multimodal transportation corridor, which will connect: (UPSC CSE 2025) (a) India to Central Asia to Europe via Iran (b) India to Central Asia via China (c) India to South-East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar (d) India to Europe through Azerbaijan (Sources: What are India's stakes in Iran's Chabahar port?, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: Significance and Prospects for India,This Word Means: IMEC) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for May 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran and Ethiopia have a security deal – here's why they signed it
Ethiopia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 6 May 2025. Under it, their national police agencies will cooperate on security and intelligence. This will include combating cross-border crime, sharing intelligence and building capacity. They will also share experiences and training. For Iran, the MOU marks a significant step towards strengthening relations with a regional power that's strategically located in the Horn of Africa. Tehran has been using its security apparatus and military capabilities to establish and expand political and economic ties with countries in Africa. This has included drone transfers to the Ethiopian government that helped it turned the tide of the Tigray war, a separatist struggle in the country's north that took place from 2020 to 2022. Iran has also supplied the Sudanese army with surveillance and combat drones. These have been used against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan's ongoing civil war. The agreement is important for Ethiopia for two reasons. Firstly, it's likely to enable the Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa to combat ethnic militias more effectively. It faces increasing internal instability, including tensions with hostile factions of the separatist Tigray People's Liberation Front. Secondly, the agreement comes after a meeting in Addis Ababa between the Ethiopian police chief, Demelash Gebremichael, and a delegation from Iran's regional rival, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exchange concentrated on investigating and extraditing cross-border criminals. Addis Ababa's willingness to work with regional rivals in the Middle East shows its pragmatic approach to foreign relations. Ethiopia needs all the friends it can muster as an embattled and weakened state. Since the Tigray war, it has battled the rise of ethnic militias and confronted economic adversity. It is also facing renewed hostility with neighbouring Eritrea. Since 2016, Ethiopia has been a gateway for Iran to gain a foothold in the Horn of Africa. That year, other countries in the region severed relations with Iran. This followed Tehran's disengagement from sub-Saharan Africa under Hassan Rouhani, who served as president from 2013 to 2021, and his prioritisation of a nuclear deal with the US. The severing of ties was also a byproduct of geopolitical pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE on countries in the region. The Middle Eastern states wanted to reduce, if not eliminate, Iran's presence in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea to limit its support for Houthi rebels in the ongoing Yemeni civil war. Read more: Ethiopia was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to establish relations with Iran during the 1960s. It was also one of its top trading partners on the continent before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Strategically and ideologically, this special relationship was based on the pro-western and anti-communist stances of their monarchs: the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled from 1941 to 1979, and Emperor Haile Selassie, who was in power from 1930 to 1974. After the revolution, Iran-Ethiopia relations revived under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served as Iranian president from 2005 to 2013. He pursued an active Africa policy to mitigate Iran's international isolation and circumvent US sanctions. After Rouhani initially downgraded these relations, they were renewed during his second term. This followed US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Relations firmed when Ebrahim Raisi, who served as Iranian president from 2021 to 2024, delivered military drones and other aid to Addis Ababa during the Tigray war. Ethiopia is facing increasing instability and uncertainty. The Tigray war has depleted the state's resources. There is an economic crisis caused by rising inflation and unemployment. Addis Ababa continues to confront ethnic tensions. Hostile factions of the Tigray People's Liberation Front remain. It also faces tensions with the Amhara Fano militia, which initially fought alongside the government against Tigrayan forces. Forced disarmament policies and ongoing land disputes caused the militia to take up arms against the government. Read more: Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed also faces growing opposition and resistance from his own ethnic group, the majority Oromo, and their Oromo Liberation Army. The reason for their discontent is Abiy's imposition of centralised rule on their regional state within a federal system. The security and intelligence cooperation with Iran could allow Addis Ababa to combat ethnic militias more effectively. It would also enable Ethiopia to prepare for another possible war against neighbouring Eritrea. Ethiopia and Eritrea normalised relations and fought together against Tigrayan forces. However, tensions between the two countries have been brewing again. These have been triggered by two factors. First, the conditions of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement caused Eritrea to maintain forces inside Ethiopia. Second are the ambitions of Addis Ababa to acquire a Red Sea port in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. Eritrea has supported Somalia's opposition to the deal. This isn't the first time that Ethiopia has tried working with two regional rivals – Iran and the UAE. The UAE is also among its top trading partners, along with Saudi Arabia. In 2016, Ethiopia was the only country in the Horn of Africa that didn't cut ties with Iran, though it was under pressure from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to do so. The decision was taken by Abiy's predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, whose term ran from 2012 to 2018. During the Tigray war, Ethiopia received military drones and other assistance from Iran and the UAE, alongside Turkey. The civil war in Sudan has presented an even more complicated story. Ethiopia has vacillated between engaging with the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces at different points in the conflict. For its part, Iran has supported the Sudanese army. The UAE has backed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Ethiopia's efforts to strengthen its security ties with Iran and the UAE show a unique case of convergence between regional rivals that have otherwise remained on opposite sides of conflicts in countries like Yemen and Sudan. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Eric Lob, Florida International University Read more: In talking with Tehran, Trump is reversing course on Iran – could a new nuclear deal be next? What is federalism? Why Ethiopia uses this system of government and why it's not perfect In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an 'airpower trap' that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars Eric Lob does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Los Angeles Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Trump plans to announce that the U.S. will call the Persian Gulf the Arabian Gulf, officials say
WASHINGTON — President Trump plans to announce while on his trip to Saudi Arabia next week that the United States will now refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf or the Gulf of Arabia, according to two U.S. officials. Arab nations have pushed for a change to the geographic name of the body of water off the southern coast of Iran, while Iran has maintained its historic ties to the gulf. The two U.S. officials spoke with the Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. The White House and National Security Council did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The Persian Gulf has been widely known by that name since the 16th century, although usage of 'Gulf of Arabia' and 'Arabian Gulf' is dominant in many countries in the Middle East. The government of Iran — formerly Persia — threatened to sue Google in 2012 over the company's decision not to label the body of water at all on its maps. On Google Maps in the U.S., the body of water appears as Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). Apple Maps only says the Persian Gulf. The U.S. military for years has unilaterally referred to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf in statements and images it releases. The name of the body of water has become an emotive issue for Iranians who embrace their country's long history as the Persian Empire. A spat developed in 2017 during Trump's first term when he used the name Arabian Gulf for the waterway. Iran's president at the time, Hassan Rouhani, suggested Trump needed to 'study geography.' 'Everyone knew Trump's friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too,' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote online at the time. On Wednesday, Iran's current foreign minister also weighed in, saying that the naming of Mideast waterways does 'not imply ownership by any particular nation, but rather reflects a shared respect for the collective heritage of humanity.' 'Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned,' Abbas Araghchi wrote on the social platform X. 'Any short-sighted step in this connection will have no validity or legal or geographical effect, it will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the U.S. and across the world.' Trump can change the name for official U.S. purposes, but he can't dictate what the rest of the world calls it. The International Hydrographic Organization — of which the United States is a member — works to ensure all the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted uniformly, and also names some of them. There are instances where countries refer to the same body of water or landmark by different names in their own documentation. In addition to Saudi Arabia, Trump is also set to visit Doha, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which also lies on the body of water. Originally planned as Trump's first trip overseas since he took office on Jan. 20, it comes as Trump has tried to draw closer to the Gulf countries as he seeks their financial investment in the U.S. and support in regional conflicts, including resolving the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and limiting Iran's advancing nuclear program. The U.S. president also has significant financial ties to the countries through his personal businesses, over which he has retained ownership from the Oval Office. The move comes several months after Trump said the U.S. would refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. The Associated Press sued the Trump administration earlier this year after the White House barred its journalists from covering most events because of the organization's decision not to follow the president's executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the 'Gulf of America' within the United States. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, an appointee of President Trump, ruled last month that the 1st Amendment protects the AP from government retaliation over its word choice and ordered the outlet's access to be reinstated. Lee writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Zeke Miller in Washington, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Meg Kinnard in Chapin, S.C., contributed to this report.
Al Arabiya
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Trump to announce US shift from ‘Persian Gulf' to ‘Arabian Gulf': Report
US President Donald Trump plans to announce during his upcoming trip to the Middle East that the United States will officially begin using the term 'Arabian Gulf' instead of 'Persian Gulf,' the Associated Press reported Wednesday, citing two US officials. The naming of the strategic body of water has long been a politically and culturally sensitive issue, particularly for Iran, which strongly opposes any deviation from the term 'Persian Gulf.' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday condemned the reported US decision. 'Politically motivated attempts to alter the historically established name of the Persian Gulf are indicative of hostile intent toward Iran and its people, and are firmly condemned. Such biased actions are an affront to all Iranians, regardless of their background or place of residence,' Araghchi wrote on X. 'While any short-sighted step in this connection will have no validity or legal or geographical effect, it will only bring the wrath of all Iranians from all walks of life and political persuasion in Iran, the US and across the world,' he added. A similar controversy arose during Trump's first term in 2017, when he used the name 'Arabian Gulf,' prompting then-Iranian president Hassan Rouhani to suggest the US president 'study geography.' In 2012, Iran threatened to sue Google over the company's decision not to label the body of water at all on its maps. While the US government has used 'Persian Gulf' in official documents, the US military has been using 'Arabian Gulf' in statements and imagery for years.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump set to rename Persian Gulf as the ‘Arabian Gulf' in snub to Iran, officials say
President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to announce that the United States will begin referring to the Persian Gulf as the 'Arabian Gulf' or 'Gulf of Arabia' in a snub to Iran. Two administration officials have told the Associated Press that Trump will visit the region next week, touring Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. He is set to make the announcement as a friendly overture to his hosts. The body of water, lying between eastern Saudi Arabia and the southwestern coast of Iran, has been widely known by its current name since the 16th century. However, the region's Arab nations have preferred a designation closer to Trump's. Tehran has been protective of the sea's historic name, however, and sued Google Maps in 2012 over its decision not to label it at all. Trump waded into the issue early in his first term in 2017 when he alluded to the area as the Gulf of Arabia, causing Iran's then-president Hassan Rouhani to suggest the American needed to 'study geography angrily.' His foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, likewise wrote in a social media post: 'Everyone knew Trump's friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is, too.' Trump's latest move will change how American officials refer to the area, but has no bearing on what the rest of the world calls the waterway, which is typically decided by the International Hydrographic Organization, a body to which the U.S. belongs. It follows the president's controversial executive order renaming a number of domestic landmarks, notably reverting Mount Denali in Alaska to its old name of Mount McKinley, preferring to ditch the native name for the peak in favor of honoring President William McKinley, an Ohioan who never once visited the state. Trump's decision to rename the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' provoked ridicule from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The White House excluded the AP from its press pool after it refused to use the new name, leading to a court case in which the agency overturned the ruling and won the right to continue covering the West Wing at close quarters. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have since returned the U.S. Army base Fort Liberty to its old name, Fort Bragg. However, this time it alludes to Second World War paratrooper Roland L Bragg, not the Confederate general Braxton Bragg, as was the original intention. The president's upcoming visit to the Middle East comes as he attempts to drum up Saudi investment in the U.S., resolve the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and rein in Iran's nuclear program.
