I2U2 Initiative

I2U2 Initiative: Relevance

• GS 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

India US Relations: Context

• Recently, the US has said that it will hold the first summit of leaders of a new group of four nations with India, Israel, and the UAE for international development cooperation.

I2U2 Initiative: Key points

• In the grouping’s name, ‘I2’ stands for India and Israel, whereas ‘U2’ stands for USA and the UAE.
• The first summit will be held during Biden’s visit to Israel, the first leg of his maiden trip as President to West Asia from July 13 to 16.
• This is a great achievement which speaks about the geopolitical changes that happen in the region.
• The issues will focus on security and areas of cooperation across hemispheres where UAE and Israel serve as important innovation hubs.
• The topics of discussion would be food security crisis and other areas of cooperation where the UAE and Israel serve as important innovation hubs.
• However, no other details were available about this new initiative, its goals, and reach.

What is I2U2?

• I2U2 is an entirely new grouping of partners that includes the United States, Israel, India, and the UAE.
• It is focused on expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia, including through trade, combating climate change, energy cooperation, and coordination on other vital shared interests.

I2U2 Significance

• It is expected to reinforce US’s commitment to Israel’s security and prosperity and continue the process of its integration into the region under the Abraham Accords.
  • Abraham accord was brokered by Donald Trump, the former president of the US, between Israel on the one hand and the UAE and Bahrain on the other in 2020.
• It demonstrates the return of American leadership to bring countries together to address common threats and challenges.

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