First I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) Leaders’ Virtual Summit

July 15, 2022

On July 14, 2022, the first India-Israel-UAE-USA (I2U2) Leader’s Summit was organised, in virtual mode.

About I2U2 grouping

  • The I2U2 grouping was first assembled in October 2021, through a foreign ministers’ meeting in virtual mode.
  • This new Quad grouping is not gaining momentum.
  • It is not an alternative to Indo-Pacific Quad comprising of India, Japan, the United States, and Australia.
  • I2U2 grouping emerged as a result of rapidly increasing cooperation among its member countries.

Why is USA supporting the grouping?

USA seeks to advance the I2U2 grouping in a bid to:

  1. Expand geographic scope of its top relationships
  2. Restore partnerships and alliances which got suffered during Donald Trump presidency,
  3. Rebuilt relations with Middle East in the time, when it seeks a smaller footprint there.

Why is India supporting the grouping?

India is backing the I2U2 grouping due to following reasons:

  1. To play an enhanced global role without compromising strategic autonomy
  2. To expand cooperation with USA beyond Asia
  3. To deepen ties in Middle East region, which is strategically significant for India due to its energy and economic interests and presence of a large diaspora.

What are the concerns?

I2U2 does not have a unifying and galvanizing cause as opposed to the Indo-Pacific Quad, that have a common desire to counter China. Countering China is a long-shot aim for I2U2, as China is already strengthening its commercial cooperation with the UAE and Israel.

Agenda of the I2U2 grouping

I2U2 will focus on ensuring continuity. Four countries are holding “Sherpa-level interactions on regular basis, to discuss the possible areas of cooperation. It will encourage joint investments across six non-securities areas viz., food security, health, water, space, transportation and energy.

What is I2U2?

I2U2 is a new partnership involving governments of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. It represents the first letters of English names of the four countries.

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