ABRAHAM ACCORDS SET NEW COURSE FOR MIDDLE EAST, SAYS UK ADVOCATE
▶ Former UK Cabinet minister will promote the ‘visionary’ ideals behind diplomatic agreements from London
Dr Liam Fox, a former UK Conservative Cabinet minister, said he will take a public role in promoting the ideals of the Abraham Accords from London.
The former British defence and international trade secretary has been a friend of the region throughout a career in government that began in the 1990s.
He said he was asked by the ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain and Israel to set up and lead an institution in the UK to promote the Accords.
He described the agreement between the UAE and Israel announced last August as a real opportunity to provide hope for people to see what sort of shared future can be built.
“It’s a tremendous step forward. We think it’s not too much to say it’s visionary. It actually sets a new course for the region,” he told The National.
“The benefits will be felt well beyond the region, and we would like the UK to play an important part.”
Dr Fox said he was keen to get the UK to help as friend and ally of the three countries that have signed the Abraham Accords.
“The diplomatic course has been set out by the governments, but we see this as a network that can help make a reality of the aspirations of the Accords,” he said.
The focus of that work will not only be among Dr Fox’s colleagues on the UK political and diplomatic scene but across industry, finance and technology interests.
“Look at what the Accords set out – you’re talking about an end to radicalisation. Well, we will want to share in that,” he said.
“Look at how it promotes interactions in science, in arts and medicine, commerce. The UK has a strong interest in all of those fields with all of those countries.”
Noting that the model that the UAE has promoted in areas from international relations to life sciences underpins the agreements, Dr Fox said there was an opportunity to demonstrate in the UK and beyond how meaningful co-operation between the states involved could become.
“We want to see the Abraham Accords succeeding, and play our part in that,” he said.
“When the prime minister met the leadership of the UAE in Downing Street, they talked about the common interests on trade and investment, on climate change, on life sciences, healthcare, future technologies and renewable energy.”
With the opening of Expo 2020 in Dubai this year, Dr Fox anticipates another platform for engagement on the Accords. “Some of the leadership that’s been put in by the UAE means this is the right time to be doing this,” he said.
“Of course, with Expo coming up, there’s a further opportunity to highlight all of these things to a world that will be just opening up again.”
Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed, Bahrain’s ambassador to the UK, welcomed Dr Fox’s participation.
“We’re thrilled to have Liam Fox play a leading role in cementing the bridges of communication and collaboration between the Abraham Accords countries,” Sheikh Fawaz told The National.
“Our shared view that the region’s interests are best met by engagement, co-operation and understanding remains vital for regional peace.
“Dr Fox has been unfaltering in his support for positive engagement and dialogue in the Middle East,” he said.
“We have no doubt, with his commitment, insights and initiatives, improved relations between our governments and our peoples, will continue to materialise.”
The announcement underlined that the Accords are an opportunity for Israel and its Arab neighbours to “build a common future of shared prosperity, stability and security and they deserve our wholehearted support”, Sheikh Fawaz said.
On Wednesday, the UAE opened an embassy in Tel Aviv, months after becoming the first Arab nation in decades to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel.
The formal opening of the mission came after the UAE, Bahrain and Israel signed the Accords in Washington in September.
In the weeks after the ceremony, Morocco and Sudan signed diplomatic accords with Israel.
Dr Fox said the Abraham Accords group would seek to ensure non-signatories like Britain were also fully engaged in the process.
“We have strong technical capabilities as the world’s fifth biggest economy and fifth biggest military to be able to help,” he said.
“This is not replicating the diplomatic framework but trying to bring together some of those other forces that can strengthen the vision itself.”
Dr Fox says the latest initiative involving the UAE, Bahrain, Israel and now the UK strengthens what has been achieved