The Development Road Idea is Turkey's and Iraq's Plan, Why is India trying to horn in on the idea?

Recep Tayyip Erdogan pushed back on Monday against plans announced by India, Saudi Arabia, and the EU to bypass Turkey and build a trade corridor linking South Asia to Europe.

This is a major issue.

Erdogan told journalists accompanying him to a G20 summit in India on Sunday there is no corridor without Turkey. "Turkey is an important production and trade base, and the most convenient route from east to west must pass through Turkey."

India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, or IMEC, aims to establish railway lines and shipping routes that will pass through the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel, then reach Greece and Europe.

European Union, India, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, and other G20 partners signed a memorandum of understanding on the corridor.

The project's main objective is to reduce shipping times by 40 percent and save money on fuel and other costs.

However, the project bypasses Turkey in its current form.

Turkey supports the Iraq Development Road Project, which is aimed at connecting the Gulf to Turkey and Europe through a railway and highway via ports in the UAE, Qatar, and Iraq. Erdogan knows that many countries seek to expand their influence by creating trade corridors.

"On Saturday, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed made a much more determined suggestion on this issue," Erdogan said.

According to the Turkish president, the Emirati leader said: "Let's not prolong this matter. Let's finish the negotiations in 60 days, and let's lay the foundations immediately and get going."

"The United Arab Emirates and Qatar are very prepared for this job. We are very, very prepared for it. I hope we will have taken this step in this way."

As part of the development road project, a dual-track railway and a modern highway will be constructed from al-Faw, a port in Basra's southern governorate.

The Iraqi government envisions trains operating at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour, or 186 miles per hour, to facilitate the transportation of passengers and goods.

There are also plans to establish logistic hubs industrial complexes, and possibly integrate oil and gas pipelines.

An investment of $17 billion is estimated to be required, with projected annual returns of $4 billion and job creation of 100,000.