Abraham Accords rapidly bringing increased security, development to region

The Abraham Accords, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and a number of Arab states, are quickly seeing dividends by the participating countries in the Middle East and beyond.

The agreements, originally signed in September 2020 by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have helped synchronise security operations, boost investments and protect the free flow of commerce.

Following the 2020 signing, a number of key developments have taken place. This year alone, there has been a flurry of activity related to the accords.

On April 1, Israel and the UAE agreed on the terms of a free trade agreement to boost commercial relations.

Israel described as "historic" the deal abolishing customs duties on "95% of the products" exchanged between the two countries.

Trade between the countries reached $900 million in 2021, according to Israeli figures.

Talks for a free trade agreement began in November and were concluded on April 1 after four rounds of negotiations, including last month in Egypt between Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the UAE's de facto leader, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"The good relations forged between our two countries are strengthened today by this free trade agreement, which will significantly improve economic co-operation for the benefit of the citizens of both countries," Bennett said.

"This milestone deal will build on the historic Abraham Accords and cement one of the world's most important and promising emerging trading relationships," the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani al-Zeyoudi said.

Tourism ties have also seen a boost lately, as the first nonstop flight between the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv and Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh took off on Sunday (April 17).

'Historic' summit

In late March, top diplomats from four Arab states, Israel and the United States concluded a landmark meeting in Israel in which they vowed to boost co-operation.

The talks brought together for the first time on Israeli soil the foreign ministers of the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt for a two-day gathering.

"What we are trying to achieve here is changing the narrative, creating a different future," UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, hailing the meeting as an opportunity to create a different future "for us and for our kids and grandkids".

"It's time to catch up, to build on a stronger relationship," he said.

"Just a few years ago, this gathering would have been impossible to imagine," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who attended the meeting.

Talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal were high on the agenda at the gathering. The efforts to revive the deal have raised concern among US-allied Arab states and Israel, which view Iran as a menace.

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said the meeting was an opportunity to build on the normalisation agreements, "growing the region's prosperity, safeguarding its security, and realising the aspirations of all its peoples".

"The need to do so is made more urgent by recent developments such as the Houthi terrorist militia's continued attacks on civilian energy infrastructure," the minister said.

He also noted the "ongoing threat from terrorist organisations such as Hizbullah and other proxy groups, and the need to resolve the Iranian nuclear file".

Security deals

On February 3, Israel also signed a defence agreement with Bahrain, its first such deal with a Gulf country since establishing diplomatic ties with Manama and Abu Dhabi.

"Only one year following the signing of the accords, we have achieved an important defence agreement, which will contribute to the security of both countries and the stability of the region," Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said in a statement.

Tel Aviv has called for deeper co-operation with Gulf partners to confront "maritime and aerial threats", Gantz said as he toured the US 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

On February 12, Bahrain confirmed that an Israeli naval officer will be stationed in the Gulf state, the first time an Israeli military officer is being posted to an Arab country.

The Bahraini Foreign Ministry said the appointment of the Israeli officer is related to an international coalition "to secure the freedom of navigation in the region".

The US 5th Fleet base in Bahrain lies just across the Gulf from Iran. The waters are crossed by hundreds of oil and cargo vessels every day.

There has been an increase in attacks on shipping in recent years that the United States and its allies have blamed on Iran.

"Against a backdrop of increasing maritime and aerial threats, our ironclad co-operation is more important than ever," Gantz tweeted after the signing of the defence agreement with Bahrain.

"We reaffirmed our commitment to stand united in defence of the sovereignty of our regional partners as well as peace and stability in the region."

A US-led maritime exercise in and around the Gulf involving 60 countries and organisations concluded in mid-February, with Israel joining in for the first time alongside several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.