I2U2 is a significant forum for India to raise its geo-strategic voice India participated in a senior leader level meeting this week a
I2U2 is a significant forum for India┬аto raise its geo-strategic voice
India participated in a senior leader level meeting this week at a forum known as the I2U2. The name, with a clever resonance to new star exploration missions, stands for the first letters of the countries, which are coming together to form a promising formidable regional alliance. This forum is also being termed as a western QUAD. The I2U2 leader-level meeting held virtually saw Israel, India, the UAE and the US come together to reimagine the geopolitical economy of the region.
The seeds of the I2U2 summit were sown during the pandemic when President BidenтАЩs predecessor Donald Trump tried to normalise the decadesтАЩ old troubled relationship between Israel and Arabs, under an agreement called the AbrahamтАЩs accord. The subsequent change of leadership in the US after 2020 meant that the AbrahamтАЩs accord did not find optimal mind space beyond a few think tanks in Washington. However, President Biden (rightly) calculated the need to continue with his predecessorтАЩs foreign policies and chose to revive the Abraham accord, along with expanding the agreement, to bring India into the picture. This resulted in the first of its kind foreign ministersтАЩ meeting last October between the US, the UAE, Israel and India.
The foreign ministersтАЩ meeting between four countries marked a significant shift in foreign policy outlook for each of the countries involved, and reorientation of their engagements in the Middle East. First, the US acknowledged to an extent that it needs new partners in the region, such as India at the table, to meaningfully manage the Middle East. It also signified that the US was willing to give away some of its legacy claims as peace agent for the region. Secondly, it also highlighted the close cooperation between the UAE and Israel in technology and trade. This underscores the true spirit of AbrahamтАЩs accord, whose declaration reads тАЬthe best way to address challenges is through cooperation and dialogueтАЭ.
