The conference, organised by the National Security Council Secretariat, will draw top diplomats from member countries, including special envoys to IMEC from Italy and France
Amidst turmoil over the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and impending 25% tariffs on U.S. imports of Indian goods, U.S. President Donald Trump’s most senior point-person for the region will lead a delegation to Delhi next week.
Ricky Gill, who is the Special Assistant to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs and the U.S. National Security Council’s Senior Director for South and Central Asia, has been invited by India’s National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to discuss the future of the long-delayed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) on August 5 and 6.
Officials of the NSCS, which is led by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, did not respond to requests for details of the conference. According to sources, a number of countries involved in the project have been invited to attend apart from the U.S.. The French delegation will be led by French special envoy to IMEC Gerard Mestrallet. The Italian special envoy to IMEC, Francesco Talo, who is also a former NSA and diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, will head the Italian delegation.
IMEC stalled by conflict
While the IMEC was launched on the sidelines of the G-20 in September 2023, it has not made much progress since, due to the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in which more than 60,000 people have been killed. The Israeli port of Haifa is a key part of the original IMEC project, although scholars have suggested considering alternative alignments.
The corridor was planned to run from India to the United Arab Emirates by sea, and then by land to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, and then by sea to ports in Europe to be decided between France, Italy, and Greece. The Chintan Research Foundation, which recently hosted a conference in Delhi with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, diplomats and scholars, suggested in a report that the IMEC countries should instead consider running the route via a “western spur traversing through Egypt and terminating at one of its major Mediterranean ports” as a way to bypass the conflict in the region.
Sanctions impact
During their stay in Delhi, Mr. Gill and the U.S. delegation are also expected to hold talks with MEA officials.
“The visit underscores the United States’ continued commitment to advancing regional connectivity and infrastructure cooperation with key partners across South Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean,” the U.S. Embassy spokesperson told The Hindu when asked about the visit.
Officials said that the visit had been planned several weeks in advance and is not connected to the current trade issues between the two countries. However, Mr. Gill has previous experience in the U.S. NSC working on Russian and Iranian sanctions, both of which are now being imposed on Indian entities, and these might come up in talks.
On Thursday (July 31, 2025), the U.S. State Department sanctioned eight Indian entities and five Indian nationals for their alleged engagement in the oil trade with Iran. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump announced that, in addition to the 25% reciprocal tariffs that would be imposed on Indian exports from August 7, Indian goods would face added “penalties” due to India’s import of Russian oil, purchase of Russian military hardware, and membership in the BRICS grouping. The Commerce Ministry has said it is “studying the implications” of the U.S. actions, and continues negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement.
Responding to a query on Mr. Trump’s objections to India sourcing energy from Russia, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances.”
Amidst trade turmoil, U.S. to send White House advisor Ricky Gill to Delhi for IMEC conference
The conference, organised by the National Security Council Secretariat, will draw top diplomats from member countries, including special envoys to IMEC from Italy and France
Amidst turmoil over the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and impending 25% tariffs on U.S. imports of Indian goods, U.S. President Donald Trump’s most senior point-person for the region will lead a delegation to Delhi next week.
Ricky Gill, who is the Special Assistant to the U.S. President for National Security Affairs and the U.S. National Security Council’s Senior Director for South and Central Asia, has been invited by India’s National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) to discuss the future of the long-delayed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) on August 5 and 6.
Officials of the NSCS, which is led by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, did not respond to requests for details of the conference. According to sources, a number of countries involved in the project have been invited to attend apart from the U.S.. The French delegation will be led by French special envoy to IMEC Gerard Mestrallet. The Italian special envoy to IMEC, Francesco Talo, who is also a former NSA and diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, will head the Italian delegation.
IMEC stalled by conflict
While the IMEC was launched on the sidelines of the G-20 in September 2023, it has not made much progress since, due to the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in which more than 60,000 people have been killed. The Israeli port of Haifa is a key part of the original IMEC project, although scholars have suggested considering alternative alignments.
The corridor was planned to run from India to the United Arab Emirates by sea, and then by land to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, and then by sea to ports in Europe to be decided between France, Italy, and Greece. The Chintan Research Foundation, which recently hosted a conference in Delhi with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, diplomats and scholars, suggested in a report that the IMEC countries should instead consider running the route via a “western spur traversing through Egypt and terminating at one of its major Mediterranean ports” as a way to bypass the conflict in the region.
Sanctions impact
During their stay in Delhi, Mr. Gill and the U.S. delegation are also expected to hold talks with MEA officials.
“The visit underscores the United States’ continued commitment to advancing regional connectivity and infrastructure cooperation with key partners across South Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean,” the U.S. Embassy spokesperson told The Hindu when asked about the visit.
Officials said that the visit had been planned several weeks in advance and is not connected to the current trade issues between the two countries. However, Mr. Gill has previous experience in the U.S. NSC working on Russian and Iranian sanctions, both of which are now being imposed on Indian entities, and these might come up in talks.
On Thursday (July 31, 2025), the U.S. State Department sanctioned eight Indian entities and five Indian nationals for their alleged engagement in the oil trade with Iran. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump announced that, in addition to the 25% reciprocal tariffs that would be imposed on Indian exports from August 7, Indian goods would face added “penalties” due to India’s import of Russian oil, purchase of Russian military hardware, and membership in the BRICS grouping. The Commerce Ministry has said it is “studying the implications” of the U.S. actions, and continues negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement.
Responding to a query on Mr. Trump’s objections to India sourcing energy from Russia, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “In securing our energy needs, we are guided by what is on offer in the markets, and by the prevailing global circumstances.”
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