The latest four nations' collaboration is drawing the attention of all nations. The four-member countries are the USA, India, UAE, and Israel. Their alliance is known as the 'West Asia Quad' or the latest one as I2U2 meaning I2 as 'India and Israel' and U2 as 'USA and UAE'.
The current visit of the president of the USA to Israel and Saudi Arabia brings the West Asia Quad topic to the limelight. The foundation of the West Asia Quad originated in October 2021 . The original Quad comprises of India, Japan, Australia and USA, which was termed by China as an Asian NATO to associate as a group specifically made against the China and Russia. But later was well countered by the foreign minster of India.
Aim of the grouping is to work on:
Trade
Maritime security
Transportation
Technology
Joint investments in Water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
According to morodiintelligence.com, "The UAE oil and gas market is expected to register a CAGR of more than 2% during the forecast period of 2022-2027. In 2018, the country launched a mega project worth $ 45 billion to increase its refining capacities in the existing refineries. The project is expected to increase the refining capacity of the country by 65%, up to 1.5 million barrels per day, by 2025".
UAE is located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. Israel is a small country and engaged in the war for years but it has advanced technologically and done well in coping with it's enemies in the past on various front.
India's geopolitics in South Asia and it's concern over the rising bully on it's neighbor that is China. USA , which see the way to counter the Russia and China through the global partnerships and specifically taking on the Indo Pacific from the dominance of China, making sense of this partnership.
The press release added that with the help of “private sector capital and expertise”, the countries will look to modernize infrastructure, explore low carbon development avenues for industries, improve public health, and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies (Quoted the Indian Express)
Russia-Ukraine war, the current shortage of energy supply, and the accelerating evolution in technology and innovation are assembling factors of the cooperation with UAE and Israel.
While on one side world politics is divided, based on ideology, economic relations, or territorial issues, the increasing number of international alliances signal balance and cooperation in the face of fierce competition and war mentality.
US Official said: “The visit will also focus on Israel’s increasing integration into the region, both through the Abraham Accords with UAE, Morocco and Bahrain…and also an entirely new grouping of partners including Israel, India, UAE and the United States — what we call I2U2.”
West Asia Quad of four countries expected to bring cultural and economic liaison, empower globalization and deflate igniting warfare.
For India it is more of engagements with the West Asia including Israel, with whom India has developed closer ties under PM Modi in the last few years.
Why this grouping didn't came initially?
Well, the Israel had no diplomatic relations with the UAE back than due to Palestinian issue, all of the gulf had boycotted but due to Abraham accords in 2020, Abraham Accord is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years mediated by the USA. It led to normalize of relations with the UAE and which marked as huge shift for diplomatic ties in the whole region.
Key Take Away's?
United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced to invest USD 2 billion in India to develop Food Parks across the country.
India will provide appropriate land for the project and will facilitate farmers’ integration into the Food Parks.
India got support for it's "hybrid renewable energy project" in Gujarat, consisting of 300 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar capacity.
US and Israeli private sectors will be invited to lend their expertise and offer innovative solutions
Read the joint statement of the I2U2 leaders here
stay tuned for more..
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