The West-Asia Quad’s inaugural virtual summit was attended by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, UAE President Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, US President Joe Biden, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting is anticipated to include a discussion of the present problem with food security.
Objective of West-Asian QUAD
India, the UAE, Israel, and the USA are officially grouped as I2U2. It was conceived last year while the foreign ministers of the four nations met. Water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security are the six areas that have been jointly acknowledged as needing cooperation and investment by the group. The objective of the grouping is to encourage private sector investment in infrastructure development projects and to establish environmentally friendly enterprises by adopting innovative techniques. Its official name is International Forum for Economic Cooperation.
Significance
The Quad is highly important for maintaining peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific, according to Jake Sullivan, America’s National Security Advisor, while I2U2 is significant in the Middle East. The growth and prosperity of both regions would be significantly influenced by the connection between India and the USA. India is the “biggest, most important, and strategically relevant country,” according to him as well.
The alliance is especially noteworthy since the United States has played a significant role in assisting Israel in integrating and strengthening its connections with other countries in the region. India is a key player in this integration process due to its favorable reputation in the Middle Eastern nations.
Highlights of the Meeting of West Asia Quad’s First Virtual
The scope of cooperation initiatives within I2U2 and steps to expand the economic relationship in trade and investment in our respective regions and beyond were discussed in the meeting, according to a statement from MEA.
https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1547556340570021888?s=20&t=34XMnILq9_LYavC4G2gtOg
According to a senior US official, Agricultural Park will be built in India as part of a $2 billion effort to address the problem of global food security. The UAE will most likely fund the initiative, and Israel and the USA will provide their technological know-how. Officials are hopeful about the project’s viability in light of the current global food crisis brought on by the Russia-Ukraine War.
PM Modi during his address said that I2U2 has developed a positive agenda from the very first summit. We have developed a plan and selected cooperative projects across different industries.
In light of growing global uncertainty, PM Modi continued, “Our cooperative framework is also a good model for practical cooperation. I am certain that I2U2 will significantly contribute to global economic growth, food security, and energy security.
https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1547535528894947328?s=20&t=34XMnILq9_LYavC4G2gtOg
The creation of I2U2 lies in the Abraham Accords which enabled Israel to normalize its relations with other countries in the region and also marked a change in how west Asian nations saw Israel. In recent years, India’s relationship with all three nations has witnessed a significant boost. India recently signed a CEPA with UAE and is in talks with Israel to conclude the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The deep, strategic, and close relations between the countries are crucial for the individual as well as regional development. The west-Asian Quad seems promising in today’s polarized world.
