I2U2 Strategic Organization: The Case of the UAE

Abstract

The inaugural summit of the novel 'mini-lateral' conglomeration, comprising India, Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, convened on July 14, 2022. The assembly is known by the moniker I2U2, which is an acronym derived from the initial letters of the participating nations. This scholarly analysis aims to delve into the rationale behind the UAE's engagement with this group. The emergence of I2U2 is significant for several political and economic reasons and signifies a shared understanding and mutual ambition among these four nations to collaboratively address human security concerns in the Middle East; the primary areas of emphasis being matters related to water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The key objective of this mini-lateral initiative is to harness the collective capabilities of the four countries to develop innovative geo-economic solutions to the region's predicaments. It’s worth noting that although this coalition is primarily geo-economic, its activities are intrinsically linked to geo-politics and could potentially impact the operations of the I2U2. This paper seeks to unravel the central motives that drove the UAE’s integration with the I2U2, as well as the benefits it anticipates as a member of this mini-lateral formation. Furthermore, it will shed light on the UAE's future strategy concerning water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The research inquiry is centered around the question of, "What factors predominantly influenced the UAE's decision to be a part of I2U2." The explorative nature of this question will build an understanding of the UAE’s positive influence in various sectors of the I2U2 and its prospective advancements. Based on the evaluation and interpretation of the relevant literature, this study will scrutinize two interconnected hypotheses. The primary hypothesis asserts that, " States join intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) when they judge the expected benefits to outweigh the costs." The secondary hypothesis suggests that "States are attracted by informal IGOs because they have low perceived costs of membership."

Date of Award	Aug 2023
Original language	American English
Supervisor	Li-Chen Sim (Supervisor)