New diplomatic era in Middle East in wake of Iran-Saudi rapprochement - analysis

It remains to be seen if the new ties with Iran will actually bring change. In the past many countries tried similar with Tehran and Tehran didn’t change its behavior

By SETH J. FRANTZMAN

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani talks with Minister of State and national security adviser of Saudi Arabia Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban during a meeting in Beijing, China March 10, 2023   (photo credit: CNSPHOTO VIA REUTERS)

Iran and Saudi Arabia appear to be headed to a new era of relations after rounds of talks in Baghdad and support for reconciliation coming from Oman and China. Reports that the two countries have now reconciled and agreed to normalize relations after years of hostility is important for the region. The news is being greeted positively in Iranian state media and the Gulf.

India, Israel, UAE, US ‘I2U2’ group convenes to strategize over international food security

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth Jose W. Fernandez says the group “reinforces the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to build on the Abraham Accords.”

BY MIKE WAGENHEIM

From left: Brett McGurk, deputy assistant to the U.S. President and White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa; Jose W. Fernandez, U.S. Under Secretary of State for economic growth, energy and the environment; Ronen Levi, director-general at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dammu Ravi, secretary (economic relations) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs; and Ahmed Al Sayegh, UAE minister of state. Photo courtesy of the U.S. State Department.

(February 27, 2023 / JNS) India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States—the group known as the I2U2—convened in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 22 to discuss food security. Following the meeting, a top U.S. official told reporters that the group collectively and with other nations aims to make a dent in the current international food crisis.

I2U2: ¿Una alineación suprarregional en proceso?

Los Acuerdos de Abraham brindan a Israel un medio para profundizar su integración en la región.

El presidente de Israel Isaac Herzog y su homólogo emiratí jeque Mohammad bin Zayed al Nahyan en Abu Dabi Foto archivo: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO vía Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

Sin embargo, los Acuerdos también brindan a Israel oportunidades para expandir su esfera de influencia más allá del Medio Oriente e integrarse en alineaciones suprarregionales.

Tal alineación multifacética se ha forjado entre India, Israel (I2), Estados Unidos y los Emiratos Árabes Unidos (U2).

What’s on the agenda for Biden’s Israel visit?

The main topics are likely to be Iran, a Middle East security alliance, the future of the Palestinian Authority, the Russia-Ukraine-Syria triangle and the “I2U2” coalition, experts tell JNS.

BY DAVID ISAAC

U.S. President Joe Biden participates in his first official press conference in the East Room of the White House on March 25, 2021. Credit: Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz.

(June 23, 2022 / JNS) U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Israel on July 13. Analysts tell JNS that among the key topics to be discussed will be the Iran threat; a security alliance between Israel and Gulf states; the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem; the poor health of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas; Russia-Syria-Ukraine; and a new global “I2U2” coalition involving India.