I2U2 Summit

The first Leaders’ Summit of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) was held virtually on 14 July 2022.

What is I2U2?

• I2U2 is a diplomatic group of India, Israel, the UAE and the United States.
  • It stands for India-Israel-UAE-USA.
  • US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has used the I2-U2 moniker for the four-member grouping.
• The grouping was launched in October 2021 when the first virtual meeting of the foreign ministers of India, Israel, the US and the UAE took place.
• The new grouping is described as an international forum for economic cooperation.
• This grouping is already being termed as a New Quad’ or the ‘Middle-Eastern Quad’.
• Objective – To generate synergies that go beyond government level cooperation.

What are the areas of cooperation?

• The grouping will focus on expanding economic and political cooperation in Asia and Middle East through energy cooperation, trade, coordination on vital shared interests and combating climate change.
• The first quadrilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of India, Israel, the UAE and the US decided to ensure —
  • • closer cooperation on increasing trade,
    • enhancing cooperation in maritime security and global public health,
    • joint infrastructure projects in transportation and technology.
• The first Leaders’ summit of I2U2 agreed to increase joint investment in six key areas of water, energy, transport, space, health and food security.
• The group does not have a military angle to it and it only features cooperation in maritime security.

Key highlights of the summit –

• Objective of the summit —
  • The summit aimed to encourage joint investments in six mutually identified areas such as water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
  • It intends to mobilise private sector capital and expertise to help
    • modernise the infrastructure,
    • low carbon development pathways for our industries,
    • improve public health, and
    • promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies.
• Meeting focused on the food security crisis and clean energy —
  • The leaders discussed innovative ways to ensure longer-term, more diversified food production and food delivery systems that can better manage global food shocks.
• AIM For Climate —
  • The participating leaders welcomed India’s interest in joining the United States, the UAE, and Israel in the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate initiative (AIM for Climate) —
  • The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate/ AIM4C) is a joint initiative by the US and the UAE.
  • It was launched in November 2021, on the sidelines of CoP26.
  • It seeks to address climate change and global hunger by uniting participants to significantly increase investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation over five years (2021 – 2025).

Key Initiatives announced –

• Food Security —
  • The UAE will invest $2 billion USD to develop a series of integrated food parks across India.
  • These parks will incorporate state-of-the-art climate-smart technologies to reduce food waste and spoilage, conserve fresh water, and employ renewable energy sources.
  • India will provide appropriate land for the project and will facilitate farmers’ integration into the food parks.
  • U.S. and Israeli private sectors will be invited to lend their expertise and offer innovative solutions that contribute to the overall sustainability of the project.
  • These investments will help maximise crop yields and, in turn, help tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East.
• Clean Energy —
  • The I2U2 Group will advance a hybrid renewable energy project in India’s Gujarat State.
  • The project is consisting of 300 MW of wind and solar capacity complemented by a battery energy storage system.
    • The U.S. Trade and Development Agency funded a feasibility study for the $330 million USD project.
  • Indian companies are keen to participate in this project.