Abraham Accords: Background, Significance, Issues & More | UPSC Notes

The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, marked a historic breakthrough in Middle Eastern diplomacy by formally normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. The Accords were named after the common patriarch of the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—to bring peace and productive cooperation in this region, which has been hot for many years. The signing ceremony at the White House has marked an event of tectonic shifts in the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, whose ramification will reach out beyond regional borders.

The topic of the Abraham Accords is relevant to General Studies Paper II of the UPSC examination, which encompasses subjects such as "Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, and International Relations." This subject matter is crucial for understanding international relations, global diplomatic strategies, and their impact on national and global governance. Hence, the Abraham Accords' analysis provides UPSC aspirants with deeper insights into contemporary geopolitical dynamics and India's foreign policy considerations.

What are the Abraham Accords?

The Abraham Accords are the series of agreements meant to bring to normalization those diplomatic relations of Israel with all Arab states. Led by the United States under the Trump presidency, the first accords came on the table in September of 2020. While the first to sign the accords were the UAE and Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have since joined in. These were full-fledged comprehensive bilateral treaties toward peaceful coexistence in the sphere of economic cooperation, security collaborations, and cultural exchange, henceforth the frame of fruitful and secure cooperation in the Middle East.

Background

The Arab-Israeli conflict is no doubt one of the most intractable disputes in contemporary history, mostly based on territorial and political contention following the research of Israel in 1948. Many wars, rebellions, and peace initiatives have been evident within the times, with different results in each case. Prior to the Abraham Accords, Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) were the only Arab countries with formal relations with Israel.

Thus, the period preceding the Abraham Accords was marked by intense diplomatic activity, changes in regional power relations, and alterations in those perceptions concerning peace and the mutual economic and strategic benefits of the same. Iranian influence began to grow in the region while otherwise unprecedented socioeconomic changes were seen to take place, notably in the UAE and Bahrain, to set the stage for these brand new agreements.

Read the article on the Council of Arab Economic Unity!

Key Parties Involved in the Abraham Accords

Several key countries and entities played vital roles in the Abraham Accords:

• The United States: The Trump administration played a principal mediating role, with the United States specifying an interest in the long-term stability of the Middle East and its strategic alliances with the region.
• Israel: This was for positioning and getting gains in security and economic engagement with their Arab neighbors.
• United Arab Emirates: Diversify its economy by securing its geopolitical position through normalization of its relationship with Israel.
• Bahrain: Following the UAE while trying to milk economic and security gains while it can while also bolstering its alliances
• Sudan and Morocco: Also followed later after the accords, aiming at the economic inducements and an improved international standing.

Read the article on the Arab League!

Advancements since the Abraham Accords

Since the signing of the Abraham accords, several advancements that have been experienced in various domains entail:

• Comparative Cooperation: Agriculture agreements, health, environment, and water management. In a case in point, the direct flights that have been incepted across the UAE and Israel, tourism has been increased not to mention the commercial relations.
• Security Arrangements: Mutual actions to curb common threats, especially by Iran and radical groups.
• Cultural Contact: Encouragement of cultural programs, educational exchanges, to further mutually understand each other better and reduce conducts of social prejudices.
• Diplomatic Engagements: Intensified dialogues at top diplomatic levels, resulting in more cooperative agreements and the realization of mutual benefits.

According to the official figures issued by the Ministry of Economy, UAE, normalization pushed the volume of trade between UAE and Israel to over $1 billion in their first year, demonstrating the potential economic pertinence of the accords.

Read the article on the Arab and Turkish Invasions!

Significance of the Abraham Accords

Abraham Accords hold various streams of significance:

• Regional Stability: Helps maintain peace in the region and reduces the probability of a conflict occurring between Israel and the Arab states.
• Strategic Realignments: Puts an effective check on the growing influence of Iran through consolidation of a bloc of nations sharing concerns over Iranian policies.
• Global Diplomacy: It boosts the influence of the US and its allies towards the politics of the Middle East.
• Trade and Investment: It opens new markets and investment opportunities for the economies concerned.
• Technological Cooperation: Promotes cooperation in technological areas, including cybersecurity, health, renewable energy.
• Tourism Development: Strengthens the connection in promoting tourist flows in the interests of the hospitality and service sectors.
• Interfaith Relations: Guarantees the process of comprehension and the relationship of dialogue between Jews and Muslims in the development of the culture of tolerance.
• Educational Exchange: Collaboration on academic associations, research, and innovation through student and staff exchanges.

Relevance of the Abraham Accords to India

The Abraham Accords have strong implications for Indian diplomacy and the economy:

• Strategic Benefits: India will be able to reiterate its relations with Israel and Gulf nations, and there will be strategic depth augmentation in the region.
• Economic Opportunities: This agreement will open avenues for trade and investments, specifically in the fields of technology, agriculture, and defense. In fact, as per the details provided by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India's exports to the UAE during 2022–2023 are pegged at $31.3 billion, showing some increase after the agreements.
• Energy Security: Energy security will be supported by diversified and stable energy imports from the Gulf.
• Diaspora Impact: It will contribute positively to the large Indian diaspora working and living in the Gulf countries by securing better living and working conditions.
• Countering Chinese Influence: It will also strengthen the strategic interest of India's counter-China line in the Middle East by more engagement and greater cooperation.

Read the article on the Gulf Cooperation Council!

Issues Associated with the Abraham Accords

The agreements have faced criticism in the sense that they appear to have sidelined the Palestinian question, one that still remains the bedrock truth of the larger Arab-Israeli conflict.

• Regional Opposition: Not all Arab countries are in support of the move toward normalization; hence, probable flashpoints and division in the region.
• Strength of Factions: Equally, political factions within the signatory countries may oppose the agreements in place whence their implementation.
• Geopolitical Risks: With changing political equations, especially with countries like Iran and Turkey, it could impose a threat to the continued success of the agreements.
• Economic Disparities: Not all the economic gains are shared equitably, which might result in resentment in some quarters in the countries involved and might foster socioeconomic disharmony.

Read the article on the Gulf War!

Way Forward

To ensure the sustained success and expansion of the Abraham Accords, several steps can be undertaken:

• Inclusive Dialogue: Engage all regional stakeholders, including Palestinian representatives, in a meaningful and inclusive dialogue.
• Strengthening Economic Ties: Continue to build robust economic partnerships that deliver tangible benefits to all parties involved.
• Security Collaborations: Enhance security collaborations to address mutual threats and ensure regional stability.
• Cultural Integration: Promote initiatives that build interfaith understanding and counter prejudice.
• Diplomatic Efforts: Maintain sustained diplomatic efforts to expand the accords to other Arab nations, fostering a comprehensive peace framework.
• Leveraging Multilateral Platforms: Utilize multilateral platforms to address broader regional concerns and integrate the accords into global diplomatic practices.

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