Committed to I2U2 grouping: US

Washington, February 29

The grouping of India, Israel, the UAE and the US continues to be a priority for the Biden administration and is not on the back-burner due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia, the White House has said, underlining that the President is “deeply committed” to making sure that the I2U2 initiatives make progress.

The I2U2 grouping was conceptualised during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries held on October 18, 2021. The I2U2’s first summit was held on July 14, 2022, to establish the group.

The grouping remains critically important, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday. Asked if the grouping was now on the back-burner or no longer active because of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the official said, “No, not at all, still a priority.” “The I2U2 remains critically important and the President is deeply committed to making sure that we continue with the I2U2, obviously with our partnership among our four countries and beyond through innovative, inclusive and science-based solutions to advance... let’s not forget, enhance food and energy security space operations and other ventures, advancing projects on water conservation, waste management and other areas,” Jean-Pierre said.

So, there is a strong future for the I2U2 and “we’re looking forward to continuing that partnership” and it has not taken on the back-burner, the White House official said. “It certainly continues to be a priority,” Jean-Pierre said. — PTI 

About the bloc

The formation of the grouping, known as “I2U2” with “I” standing for India and Israel and “U” for the US and the UAE, is largely seen as a strategic attempt by the United States to check China’s increasing influence in Asia and the Middle East.

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