Another QUAD in making? Jaishankar holds 'fruitful' talks in new quadrilateral with Israel, UAE and US

Tel Aviv, Oct 19: In what comes another QUAD involving India, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar took part in a quadrilateral grouping, including Foreign Ministers of Israel, United Arab Emirates and the United States

 

The quadrilateral is a new grouping that builds on ongoing cooperation between the US-Israel-UAE after the Abraham Accords last year that saw UAE and Israel establish diplomatic ties, and the India-Israel-UAE cooperation that has been launched since then.

 

 

 

Jaishankar termed his first meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the US, UAE, and Israel as 'fruitful'. "A fruitful first meeting with Israeli APM and FM Yair Lapid, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and US Secretary of State Secretary Antony Blinken this evening," EAM said in a tweet.

 

 

The Indian minister held meeting with Israel Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ‘discussed working together more closely on economic growth and global issues. Agreed on expeditious follow-up.’ Notably, Jaishankar's travel to Israel is also routed via the UAE, on flights. This has started to enhance co-operation and diplomatic ties with India.

 

 

Foreign Ministers of the U.S., Israel and UAE had met in Washington on October 13 to discuss modalities of trilateral cooperation, and set up two working groups: on religious coexistence and the other on water and energy.

 

Interestingly, neither the quadrilateral meeting, nor the trilateral meeting discussed the issue of Palestine and resuming the “Middle east peace process”, although the Joe Biden administration has expressed support for a "two-state solution", that is in line with India’s broader position.

 

 

On Monday, Jaishankar and his Israeli counterpart held bilateral talks, agreeing to resume long-pending negotiations for a free trade agreement, a mutual recognition agreement for COVID-19 vaccine certificates, beginning with Israeli acceptance of Indian travellers vaccinated with Covishield, and Israel’s joining the International Solar Alliance.