The New Middle East Route and How the 2025 Conflict Redefines Global Logistics

By María Gamba

From speeches with maps at the UN to the battles in the Gulf, the Middle East is changing. And with it, the way products move around the world.

In 2023, Benjamin Netanyahu presented an ambitious vision: aNew Middle East Routethat would connect India, the Gulf, Israel, and Europe. The goal was to create an alternative trade corridor that would avoid routes like the Suez Canal and unstable areas like Iraq or Iran. The plan has the backing of India, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and several European countries.

However, that corridor today clashes with the reality of the conflict that the region is experiencing in 2025. Global logistics is once again under pressure.

The current conflict: what is happening in 2025?

Since March, the United States has led attacks in Yemen against armed groups linked to Iran. In response, Iran launched missiles against U.S. military bases in Qatar, generating a new regional escalation. In addition, Iran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which almost a fifth of the world's oil transits.

Although the United States has reinforced its military presence in the area, many shipping companies are already avoiding the traditional routes of the Gulf. Logistics costs have begun to skyrocket, and the impact is already being felt globally.

Rising logistics costs

Increasingly expensive maritime routes

The main shipping companies are diverting their ships to longer routes, such as the Cape of Good Hope, which adds days of travel and millions of dollars in additional fuel costs. This generates a domino effect: more congestion in alternate ports, delays in deliveries, and a generalized increase in maritime transport prices.

Rise in oil prices

The price of oil has risen steadily, driven by uncertainty about security in the Middle East. This increases the cost not only of maritime transport, but also of land and air transport.

More expensive insurance

Insurance policies for ships crossing high-risk areas have skyrocketed. This forces many companies to rethink their routes or even temporarily halt their operations in the region.

What about land and rail routes?

The New Middle East Route bets on land and rail corridors, but its viability remains limited. Tensions between Iran and Israel complicate passage through several countries in the region, and the infrastructure is not yet finished.

Although there are attempts to consolidate alternative routes through Turkey or Greece, there are still logistical, bureaucratic, and security barriers. The project is still advancing, but its actual implementation faces serious delays due to the conflict.

The United States and its strategic role

The United States not only acts militarily, it is also influencing global supply chains through tariffs, trade restrictions, and strategic agreements with allies.

The country has reduced its dependence on imports from China, and is now seeking to strengthen ties with India, Vietnam, and other Asian partners. In addition, many U.S. companies are accelerating the relocation of production and distribution centers to more stable areas.

Direct impact on U.S. logistics

U.S. maritime imports have fallen significantly in recent months. Some ports in the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast have gained prominence, but congestion and costs remain significant challenges.

In view of this scenario, many companies are increasing their safety inventory, investing in air transport for critical shipments, and diversifying their suppliers to avoid future disruptions.

How to react to this new scenario

InControl Terrestre, we have always believed that logistics is not just about moving goods, but about anticipating changes in the global environment. That is why we closely follow this type of scenario, as they have a direct impact on the routes we use with clients in Mexico and North America, especially in sectors where time and stability are key.

In situations like this, logistics operators that combine monitoring, technology, and flexibility are the ones that can offer real solutions. For us, it's not just about changing routes, but about building adaptable transport networks, with precise data and real-time control.

That is why we are promoting solutions that help our clients overcome these moments of uncertainty, such as:

• Land transport with 24/7 monitoring and real-time GPS tracking.
• Personalized logistics plans to redirect cargo when there are blockages or delays.
• Proactive inventory management to minimize the risk of shortages.
• Collaborations with international operators to guarantee continuity on critical routes.

Final reflection

The global logistics map has already changed. What began as an ambitious commercial plan to unite Asia, the Middle East, and Europe has become a geopolitical chessboard full of risks and tensions.

Today, logistics depends not only on efficiency or cost, but on the ability to adapt to a world in transformation.

In an environment like this, having logistics partners who understand the global landscape and can act with agility is not a luxury, it is a necessity. And that is precisely what we seek to offer at Control Terrestre: logistics prepared for what is to come.