The US-India trade route will operate through Israel, US President Donald Trump stated during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday.

Trump stated that the route will run "from India to Israel to Italy, and onwards to the United States."

The aim of the route is to link the US' allies "with ports, railways, and undersea cables," Trump noted.

Trump added that the US and India will work on "one of the greatest trade routes in history."

Countering Chinese influence

According to Israel's public broadcaster KAN, the route is part of attempts made by India and the US to minimize Chinese influence on trade routes.   
An Israeli flag [Ilustrative] (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
An Israeli flag [Ilustrative] (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
According to KAN, it is also an attempt to counter China's development strategy dubbed the "Belt and Road Initiative."