India, Israel, US, UAE are I2U2, summit next month

US President Joe Biden will host the Virtual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Naphy Bennett and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to West Asia from July 13 to 16.

A senior US administration official told reporters in a background call that the new grouping would be called “I2U2” – “I” for India and Israel and “U” for the US and UAE.

In October 2021, a meeting of foreign ministers from four countries occurred when the Minister of Foreign Affairs S Jaisankar visited Israel. At that time, it was called ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’. This time, the meeting will take place at the level of the head of the government/state – an increase.

US officials, when giving a briefing on the visit of Biden to Israel, Palestine and Saudi Arabia next month, said, “The visit will also focus on increasing Israel’s integration to the region, both through Abraham in accordance with the UAE, Morocco and Bahrain; through deeper relationships between Israel, Jordan and Egypt; And also the grouping of completely new partners including Israel, India, UAE and the United States – what we call I2U2. “

We consider this initiative which is the center of our strategy to empower partners and encourage them to work closer together, which will lead to more stable areas and also the security and prosperity of Israel in the long run. Secretary of Blinken, last month in Negev in South Israel, met with colleagues from Abraham Accord Partners UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, along with Jordan and Egypt, highlighted the deeper regional partnership, “said the official.

What is important, some of these new partnerships reach outside the Middle East, and in this case, the President will hold a virtual summit with the Head of State I2U2 for discussions on the Food Safety Crisis and other fields The important thing is, “said the official.

The president is waiting for this unique involvement with Prime Minister Bennett from Israel, Prime Minister of Modi India and President Mohammed bin Zayed from the UAE,” said the official.

India-Israel-As-Eae grouping, who met for the first time under the new framework in October 2021, discussed issues about maritime security, infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and transportation. At that time, Ahmed Albanna, UAE Ambassador to India, had called a new grouping as ‘Quad West Asia’.

Biden administration has launched or improved several multilateral initiatives since January 2021 including Quad (India, US, Japan and Australia), Aukus (Australia, England and US) and rectangular dialogue with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.