ORF Middle East Proposes Levantine Trade Routes to Secure Gulf Supply Chains

ORF Middle East has released a strategic analysis proposing a "Levantine path" to strengthen the economic resilience of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The report argues that establishing integrated trade corridors through the Levant is no longer optional but a strategic necessity to bypass maritime vulnerabilities in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. Strategic Trade Alternatives The ORF framework details the integration of land-based logistics networks connecting the Gulf to Mediterranean ports. By utilizing routes through Jordan and Iraq, GCC economies can mitigate risks associated with regional maritime chokepoints. This shift toward multi-modal transport aims to secure supply chains for food, energy, and manufactured goods against geopolitical volatility. Central to this resilience strategy is the development of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). This project seeks to link Indian ports with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, continuing via rail through Jordan to the Israeli port of Haifa. Researchers suggest that this corridor provides a faster, more stable alternative to traditional Suez Canal routes, particularly during periods of high regional…