DPG West Asia Review

DPG West Asia Review

Date: August 17, 2020

In a historic milestone in the Arab-Israeli relations, on August 13, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel normalized full diplomatic relations with Israel “suspending” annexation of the parts of West Bank. Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) had previously signed similar peace agreements with Israel. Bahrain, Oman and Egypt welcomed the peace deal known as the ‘Abraham Accord’; while, Turkey and Iran severely criticised the same. Turkey threatened to
suspend diplomatic relations, while Iran termed it as “strategic act of idiocy by Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi”. Saudi Arabia maintained cautious silence, however, Jared Kushner – Senior Advisor to the U.S. President believes even Saudi Arabia will “inevitably” normalise diplomatic relations with Israel. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the peace agreement and called for resumption of direct talks between Israel and Palestine towards a peaceful “Two State Solution”.

On August 14, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) rejected a resolution to extend arms embargo on Iran. Thus, President Trump is likely to re-impose unilateral “snapback” sanctions on Iran. The U.S. also seized Iranian fuel shipments heading towards Venezuela. In the light of growing US-Iran confrontation, Russia called for an urgent virtual summit of countries party to the JCPOA i.e. five permanent members of the UNSC, Germany and Iran.

On the economic front, India-Egypt trade reached USD4.53 billion in Fy20 despite COVID-19 induced economic crisis. India signed air-bubble agreement with Qatar to facilitate flights between the two countries beginning August 18. On August 10, India’s Ambassador to the UAE informed that, “India and UAE’s airlines can now carry any Indian national holding any type of valid UAE visa from India to UAE.”

Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations have been strained by Islamabad’s threats to split the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) on Kashmir issue. Reportedly, Pakistan’s Army Chief will visit Saudi Arabia to smoothen the strained relations between the two nations. On the regional
security front, U.S. CENTCOM Chief Gen. Kenneth Mckenzie warned about growing threat of ISIS in West Syria.

The anti-government protests in Beirut (Lebanon) show no signs of abating. As a result, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned on August 10. Meanwhile, India delivered 58 metric tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid, including medical and food supplies to Lebanon.

Links to major developments in West Asia of strategic relevance to India, compiled from open source media, can be found below.