In the geo-strategic context of West Asia, the recent efforts to normalise relations between Israel and UAE may open new possibilities for India. Analyse.
Answers
The recently signed peace accord between UAE and Israel (and also between Israel and Bahrain) may advance peace and stability in the region and open the doors to rapprochement between traditional adversaries in West Asia - Israel and the Arab States. Brokered by the US administration, the peace deal envisages “full normalisation” of relations between Israel and UAE.
India has deep stakes in West Asia as the region is the largest energy supplier and provides employment to a large number of expatriates. With these two states normalizing relations, the diplomatic environment is likely to become more favourable that opens new opportunities for India in the region :-
- Greater possible role in regional stability :- For years, India has maintained good relations with all the major stakeholders in the region including UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine. It can leverage its soft power in persuading the rivals and find consensus on key conflicting issues.
- Enhanced strategic partnership :- India has already signed pacts for security cooperation and counter-terror intelligence with both the Israel and UAE. Now reducing hostility and normalising relations open doors for India to establish multi-faceted collaboration in areas.
- Increased cooperation in new areas :- India’s existing separate agreements with the dynamic economies of both the UAE and Israel could now evolve into a multilateral cooperation in several areas of mutual interests ranging from defense, cybersecurity, space science, healthcare, food security and financial services.
- Common international interests :- Over the years, the UAE has developed a reputation for pursuing a proactive and diversified foreign policy based on pragmatism over religious ideology; opposing extremism to create stable and moderate region. Thus, in a post-Covid, multi-aligned, technology-driven world, the UAE, Israel and India, along with the United States, will likely find more common causes than before. India’s growing tactical and strategic synergy with all these countries will be pivotal in ensuring that those common causes translate into meaningful action and active cooperation.
- Areas of Economic Convergence :- While the UAE has emerged as one of the world’s most attractive ecosystems for start-ups, with more than a third of start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa based in the country, Israel already enjoys a reputation of being the Start-Up Nation and the sector makes up more than 40 percent of the country’s exports, while India has seen a mushrooming of tech start-ups and MSMEs under the Make in India scheme. The startup ecosystems in these two countries present huge opportunities for India’s IT sector.
However, the peace accord comes up with its own set of challenges. The UAE-Israel deal means that the USA and Iran will remain at loggerheads. With US sanctions on Iran being intact, India cannot enhance its engagement with Iran – a major energy supplier to India. Also, Iran will see evolving Arab-Israeli ties as a direct threat to its security in the region. Thus, India needs to carefully tread the diplomatic path so as to maximize the benefits from the new accord without antagonizing any partner.
Hope It helps you.
The recently signed peace accord between UAE and Israel (and also between Israel and Bahrain) may advance peace and stability in the region and open the doors to rapprochement between traditional adversaries in West Asia - Israel and the Arab States. Brokered by the US administration, the peace deal envisages “full normalisation” of relations between Israel and UAE.
India has deep stakes in West Asia as the region is the largest energy supplier and provides employment to a large number of expatriates. With these two states normalizing relations, the diplomatic environment is likely to become more favourable that opens new opportunities for India in the region :-
- Greater possible role in regional stability :- For years, India has maintained good relations with all the major stakeholders in the region including UAE, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine. It can leverage its soft power in persuading the rivals and find consensus on key conflicting issues.
- Enhanced strategic partnership :- India has already signed pacts for security cooperation and counter-terror intelligence with both the Israel and UAE. Now reducing hostility and normalising relations open doors for India to establish multi-faceted collaboration in areas.
- Increased cooperation in new areas :- India’s existing separate agreements with the dynamic economies of both the UAE and Israel could now evolve into a multilateral cooperation in several areas of mutual interests ranging from defense, cybersecurity, space science, healthcare, food security and financial services.
- Common international interests :- Over the years, the UAE has developed a reputation for pursuing a proactive and diversified foreign policy based on pragmatism over religious ideology; opposing extremism to create stable and moderate region. Thus, in a post-Covid, multi-aligned, technology-driven world, the UAE, Israel and India, along with the United States, will likely find more common causes than before. India’s growing tactical and strategic synergy with all these countries will be pivotal in ensuring that those common causes translate into meaningful action and active cooperation.
- Areas of Economic Convergence :- While the UAE has emerged as one of the world’s most attractive ecosystems for start-ups, with more than a third of start-ups in the Middle East and North Africa based in the country, Israel already enjoys a reputation of being the Start-Up Nation and the sector makes up more than 40 percent of the country’s exports, while India has seen a mushrooming of tech start-ups and MSMEs under the Make in India scheme. The startup ecosystems in these two countries present huge opportunities for India’s IT sector.
- However, the peace accord comes up with its own set of challenges. The UAE-Israel deal means that the USA and Iran will remain at loggerheads. With US sanctions on Iran being intact, India cannot enhance its engagement with Iran – a major energy supplier to India. Also, Iran will see evolving Arab-Israeli ties as a direct threat to its security in the region. Thus, India needs to carefully tread the diplomatic path so as to maximize the benefits from the new accord without antagonizing any partner.