Syllabus
Mains: GS 2 – International Relations + Prelims: Current events of National Importance.
Context
- The White House has waged a concerted campaign to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalize its relations with Israel.
Motives
- While the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Israel may converge at the proposed reconciliation, their respective motives differ.
- For US,
- It can entrench the Pax Americana over the region by bringing two traditionally prowest regional players together.
- It can also tackle the growing influence by China and Russia in the Middle East.
- Also, the powerful Jewish lobby’s gratitude would help Mr. Biden win the U.S. presidential election next year.
- For Saudi Arabia,
- Diplomatic ties with Israel would help it emerge as a more nationalist power than an Islamic one.
- Saudi also needs a stronger U.S. security commitment and access to Israeli technology
- For Israel,
- This would be a major geopolitical victory, symbolizing its final acceptance as a legitimate Jewish state by the center of Islam after 75 years as a regional outcast.
- It would also provide direct air and land access to Asia, enabling better leveraging of the economic opportunities as the economic center of gravity shifts eastwards.
Impact
- The Islamic mainstream would likely follow the Saudi lead .
- It would further marginalize the “Palestinians’ Cause” and may polarize and radicalize them and other opponents of Israel such as Iran and Syria.
- Saudi Israeli rapprochement would have a mildly positive impact on India.
- It would remove a contradiction in India’s regional policy and better align Saudi Arabia with india.
- It may open opportunities as the U.S. pushes back China from the region.
- It may also give Israel reasons to hyphenate India with Islamic countries, including Pakistan.
Challenges
- Forging ties with Israel carries the risk of Iranian aggression and heightened regional security escalation.
- The push for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia could come at a high price for Washington in the Middle East .This is because the US may have to make security guarantees to Saudi Arabia and help them start a civilian nuclear program in exchange for their agreement to normalize relations with Israel. This could have implications for the balance of power in the region and could potentially strain relations with other countries in the Middle East.
Way Forward
- A global cooperation based on agreed rules is the need of the hour.
- According to the UN, Enhanced multilateralism is seen as the way to deal with the world’s crises.
Related topics
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
- The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a part of the wider Arab-Israeli conflict. It is a long-standing battle between Israelis and Palestinians that began in the mid-20th century. The conflict is driven by several factors, including ethnic, national, historical, and religious differences.
- Many attempts have been made to create a two-state solution, which would mean an independent Palestinian state and an Israeli state, dividing the land between the two groups. However, there are significant disagreements over the form of any final agreement and the level of trust each side has in the other in following an agreement.
West Asia
- There are 18 countries in Western Asia. These countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
- West Asia is a region of great significance due to its strategic location, proximity to other continents and countries, and its abundant resources.
- It is a major source of energy and remittances for many countries in Asia and its challenges have global implications.
OPEC and OPEC+
- The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
- OPEC was formed in 1960 and its 13 current member states hold more than 80% of the world’s proven oil reserves.
- Another 10 major oil producing countries including Russia have aligned with the group to form an alliance known as OPEC+.
- OPEC produces about 40% of the world’s crude oil and its members’ exports make up around 60% of global petroleum trade.
- The group aims to regulate global oil prices by coordinating on reductions or increases in production.
G20
- The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. It plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues.
- India holds the Presidency of the G20 from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023.
- The G20 was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis as a forum for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues.
- The G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating Presidency.
- The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union.
- The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
- The G20 consists of two parallel tracks: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track. Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors lead the Finance Track while Sherpas who are personal emissaries of the Leaders lead the Sherpa Track after Finance Track.
- The Group does not have a permanent secretariat. The Presidency is supported by the Troika – previous, current and incoming Presidency. During India’s Presidency, the troika will comprise Indonesia, India and Brazil, respectively.
Arab League
- The Arab League, also known as the League of Arab States, is a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa.
- It was formed in 1945, with the aim of strengthening and coordinating the political, cultural, economic, and social programs of its members and mediating disputes among them or between them and third parties.
- The founding member states were Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.
- India was conferred observer status by the League.
I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA)
- I2U2 is a new partnership between the governments of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
- It is also referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad’
- The countries aim to cooperate on joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
Reference