The announcement of an economic corridor by India, Saudi Arabia and European Union has drawn criticism from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that such an arrangement cannot work without involving his country.

Erdogan made the statement infront of journalists at the G20 conference where the India-Middle East corridor was announced.

“We say that there is no corridor without Turkey,” he said, adding that Turkey is an important production and trade base.

“The most convenient line for traffic from east to west has to pass through Turkey,” he said.

The project aims to connect India, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel on its way to Europe. The signatories hope it will save money and time on shipping routes.

Erdogan also said that the project is one of many that countries are hoping will expand their area of influence. Many in the western media have compared the project to CHina’ Belt and Road Initiative.

However, Erdogan said that he backs Iraq Development Road Project which hopes to connect Gulf countries to Turkey and europe through highways and railways through UAE, Qatar and Iraq.