Courtesy Nikkei Asia, a report on U.S. talks with Saudi Arabia, India and the United Arab Emirates about a massive transport infrastructure project as Washington steps up engagement with the Middle East to counter China’s influence:

The U.S. is talks with Saudi Arabia, India and the United Arab Emirates about a massive transport infrastructure project as Washington steps up engagement with the Middle East to counter China’s influence.

The project, reported by Axios on Saturday, would include a network of railways among Gulf and Arab states, to be connected to India via shipping lanes from ports in the region.

It was discussed Sunday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Sullivan’s Indian and Emirati counterparts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The meeting aimed to “advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world,” a White House readout said.

The idea was first raised at I2U2, a forum established in 2021 for India, Israel, the U.S. and the UAE to discuss infrastructure projects in the Middle East. Riyadh was brought into the discussions more recently.

The “fundamental notion” of I2U2 is to “connect South Asia to the Middle East to the United States in ways that advance our economic technology and diplomacy,” Sullivan said in a speech Thursday. “And we’ve already got a number of projects underway and some new exciting steps that we’re looking forward to undertaking in the months ahead.”

The I2U2, which held its first summit in July 2022, was created to tackle challenges involving water, energy, transportation, space, health and food security. The United States Institute of Peace think tank has likened it to the Quad security grouping of the U.S., India, Japan and Australia.

Supporting infrastructure development is part of Washington’s strategy for the Middle East, as it seeks to establish Iran as a common threat and promote cooperation between Israel and Arab nations, with which Israel has clashed over the Palestinian issue.

Saudi Arabia’s move in July 2022 to open its airspace to all civilian aircraft — including Israeli planes, which had previously been banned — was in keeping with these efforts. U.S. President Joe Biden praised the decision as “an important step towards building a more integrated and stable Middle East region.”

But the recent agreement to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran has thrown off the assumptions underlying Washington’s hopes of isolating Tehran and forging official diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The reportedly strained relationship between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu poses an obstacle as well.

Eroding U.S. influence in the Middle East adds further cause for concern.

The Iran-Saudi rapprochement in March was brokered by China, with Washington left out of the talks. Riyadh and Beijing are working together more closely on China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative and also partnering on Vision 2030, a plan to reduce Saudi Arabia’s economic reliance on oil.

The fact that China imports 70% or so of its oil sets the stage for a relationship of mutual dependence. Beijing sees Riyadh as an important source of the stable energy supply it needs to fuel economic growth, while China offers Saudi Arabia a steady export market.

On the other hand, the Middle East holds less value for the U.S., where energy independence engendered by the shale boom has made Riyadh less of a priority. The Biden administration’s emphasis on human rights has also added friction to the relationship.