Diplomatic Recognition of Israel by UAE and Bahrain: Regional Reactions and India’s Concerns

The recent Abraham Accords signed between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain marked the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and the two GCC states. But clandestine relations between Israel and most of the GCC states have been going on since the past three decades and the Accords are merely a formalisation of an ongoing process. The establishment of
diplomatic relations has brought about interesting reactions from the region, especially the different GCC states. Apart from the UAE and Bahrain, two different sets of reactions are visible among the GCC states. The first group, which includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman already has friendly relations with Israel but are not in a position to formally establish diplomatic relations because of various reasons. The second is the lone GCC state of Kuwait which is opposed to the normalisation of ties with Israel unless the Palestinian issue is settled. This paper looks not just at the regional reactions, but India’s concerns with regard to the Abraham Accords, including long-term nuclear proliferation concerns in West Asia in the context of the recent starting of operations at UAE’s Barakah nuclear power station and Israel’s nuclear capability.

Read the paper Diplomatic Recognition of Israel by UAE and Bahrain: Regional Reactions and India’s Concerns by Dr Shelly Johny, Senior Fellow (West Asian & Security Studies), CPPR.