GSPaper-2
Syllabus: Global grouping involving India, I2U2 etc
Context:
- The United Arab Emirates announced an investment of USD 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India as part of efforts by the four-nation grouping I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA) to help tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East.
Key Highlights:
- UAE to invest in Indian food parks: I2U2 leaders said the UAE – home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and host of COP28 in 2023 – will invest USD 2 billion to develop a series of integrated food parks across India.
- US and Israel to provide expertise: The 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 maximize crop yields and, in turn, help tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East.
- Hybrid renewable energy project in Gujarat: It will consist of 300 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar capacity, complemented by a battery energy storage system.
- Science-based solutions to enhance food security: will build more innovative, inclusive, and science-based solutions to enhance food security and sustainable food systems.
- Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate initiative (AIM for Climate): India has shown interest in joining the United States, the UAE, and Israel in the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate initiative (AIM for Climate)
- Support for Abraham Accord: The I2U2 leaders reaffirmed their “support for the Abraham Accords and other peace and normalization arrangements with Israel”.
I2U2
- It was initially formed in October, 2021 following the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE, to deal with issues concerning maritime security, infrastructure and transport in the region.
- At that time, it was called the ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’, referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad’.
- I2U2 initiative is a new grouping of India, Israel, USA and UAE.
- This will not only revitalize and re-energize the system of alliances and partnerships around the world, but also stitch together partnerships that did not exist previously or were not utilized to their full extent.
- Cooperation areas:
- Security Cooperation
- Technological Hubs
- Food Security
- Work Together in Different Fields like climate change, pandemics etc
Insta Links:
Practice Questions
Q. India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.”Discuss. (UPSC 2019)
Q. Which of the following is/are party to Abraham Accord?
- UAE
- Oman
- Bahrain
- Israel
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 1, 3 and 4 only
c. 1 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: (b)
Justification:
The Abraham Accord between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is mediated by the USA. It is the first Arab-Israeli peace deal in 26 years.
