UPSC Mains Daily Questions » Daily Answer Writing Challenge-15th September

Daily Answer Writing Challenge-15th September

Q1. How will “I2U2” help India to get the advantage to deepen engagement with Israel without  risking its ties with the UAE and the other Arab states? (250 words, 15 Marks) 

Approach: 

  • Introduction: Give a brief overview of I2U2. 
  • Body: 
  • Mention the aim of the I2U2 Summit. 
  • Write about the I2U2 Summit and its Significance for India concerning the engagement  with Israel without risking its ties with the UAE and the other Arab states. 
  • Conclusion: Conclude suitably. 

Answer: 

India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the US participated in the I2U2 Summit in 2022. I2U2,  often known as the “West Asian Quad,” is an acronym representing India, Israel, the United Arab  Emirates, and the United States. The organisation was initially conceived in October 2021, while  the four countries’ foreign ministers were meeting in Israel. The newly formed organisation is  referred to as a multilateral platform for economic cooperation. The primary goal of the coalition  is to forge connections that go beyond intergovernmental collaboration. 

Aim of the I2U2 Summit: 

  • The discussion’s declared goal is to “strengthen the economic collaboration in trade and  investment in our respective regions and beyond” through discussion of “shared areas of  mutual interest.” 
  • Mutually, the nations have determined six areas of cooperation. The purpose is to promote  collaborative investments in: 
  •  Water 
  • Energy 
  •  Transportation 
  • Space
  •  Health  
  • Food security 
  • The nations will work to modernise infrastructure, investigate low carbon development avenues  for industries, enhance public health, and support the development of vital emerging and green  technologies with the aid of “private sector capital and expertise.” 

I2U2 Summit – Significance for India: 

  •  Bilaterally, India shares prolific relationships with the three other members; boasting of a ‘Global Strategic Partnership’ with the US, ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ with the UAE,  and 30 years of successful diplomatic relationship with Israel. 
  • I2U2 also presents India with an opportunity to play a global leadership role alongside the US  while keeping its strategic autonomy and national interests intact.  
  •  India and countries in West Asia have maintained ad hoc bilateral relations. This alliance marks  a first in the merging of ties with two countries in West Asia. Additionally, the Abraham Accords offer the benefit of continuing to cooperate with Arab countries. 

○  The Abraham Accords will allow India to enhance its relationship with Israel without 

endangering its relations with the UAE and other Arab nations. 

  •  The platform is crucial for luring West Asian companies and investors to the sizable consumer  market in India. 
  •  India’s influence in West Asian geopolitics will be strengthened by this alliance both strategically and economically. 
  • The remittances will be significantly impacted by the Indian diaspora in West Asian countries, and the I2U2 will contribute to furthering the cooperation. 

Advantages of the I2U2 Summit: 

  •  Enables the expansion and improvement of the already friendly political and economic ties  with Israel and the UAE. 
  •  I2U2 will closely resemble the general policy objectives of India in areas like water, transportation,  and health. 
  •  Improve the fundamental societal and physical infrastructure. For instance, India and Israel  worked together on Gujarat drip irrigation projects. 
  • The three pillars of India’s old West Asia policy were the Sunni Gulf monarchy, Israel, and Iran.
  • The Abraham Accord is bridging the chasm between Israel and the Sunni countries.
  • India will therefore experience less difficulty in West Asia in the future. 

Enhancing collaboration in areas like energy, security, food security, trade and commerce,  maritime security, etc. is a wonderful idea thanks to the I2U2. Cooperation among the four  nations is essential. While the UAE’s energy industry is expanding, the US serves as a hub for  exports. India has one of the world’s fastest expanding economies, while Israel has a significant 

technological and military edge.  

Additional Information 

Abraham Accords: 

  • The creation of this group represents Israel’s growing regional integration as a result of the  Abraham Accords. 
  • Israel officially normalised diplomatic relations with the UAE and two other nations in the region as a result of the Abraham Accords of 2020, which represented a significant turnaround in the view of West Asian nations toward Israel.