US President Donald Trump began his first major foreign trip since returning to the White House by traveling to the Middle East on Tuesday. The last time he visited the region, eight years ago, he only went to Saudi Arabia.

President Donald J. Trump’s trip to the Middle East on May 13-16 comes on the heels of more than three months of whirlwind activity in US foreign policy where the region has been a higher priority than it was in the early months of the previous US administration.

Syria and Lebanon are intensifying actions against armed Palestinian factions long present in their countries. The move aligns with Lebanon’s intent to consolidate military power and emerging political shifts in Syria.

The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it now expects Middle East and North Africa economies to grow by just 2.6% in 2025 as uncertainties stemming from a global trade war and weaker oil prices weigh on the region.

For India, IMEC presents a historic opportunity to strengthen its role as a global economic player. Its location at the southeastern end of the corridor gives it a critical advantage, enabling direct access to West Asian markets and beyond to Europe.