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At a moment of mounting global instability from attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea to rising tensions across the Indo-Pacific the question facing American policymakers is no longer whether the United States and India should deepen their partnership. That debate has been settled by history, economics, and strategy.

The question now is: How should this partnership be scaled for a world where security, trade, energy and technology are more interconnected than ever?

The answer is clear. Strengthening the U.S.-India partnership becomes even more consequential when aligned with the United Arab Emirates and increasingly, with Israel as a regional innovation and security partner. Together, these four countries form a highly functional framework, one that can deliver stability and prosperity across two of the world’s most important theaters: the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.

While U.S.–India relations have matured into one of the most important partnerships of the 21st century, the UAE and Israel provide strategic accelerators: globally connected hubs with unmatched strengths in investment, logistics, diplomacy, advanced defense, and high-impact innovation.

The reality is simple: when the United States, India, the UAE, and Israel collaborate, the result is greater than the sum of its parts.

1) A new global architecture is emerging and this coalition fits it: 

The world is moving away from single-power dominance toward multi-polar networks. In this new era, success will depend not only on traditional alliances, but on functional partnerships that produce outcomes securing trade corridors, diversifying supply chains, accelerating energy transition, and strengthening counterterrorism cooperation.

The U.S.-India partnership already rests on a strong foundation: shared democratic values, robust people-to-people ties, expanding defense coordination, and a mutual interest in preserving open sea lanes and a rules-based order.

But when the UAE and Israel join the equation, the partnership becomes uniquely operational:

• The UAE brings trade connectivity, logistics infrastructure, capital, and regional diplomatic leverage
• Israel contributes world-leading innovation capacity, cybersecurity expertise, intelligence coordination, and advanced defense technologies

Together, they create a powerful model of economic stability, security resilience, and innovation leadership.

2) Trade routes and supply chains have become the battleground of influence:

Recent disruptions in the Red Sea have reinforced a central strategic truth: trade routes are security routes.

India one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world depends on predictable access to global markets. Its manufacturing ambitions require resilient supply chains. The UAE’s ports and logistics networks rank among the most sophisticated anywhere, positioned at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Israel adds another strategic dimension: high-value manufacturing capacity and advanced systems that strengthen infrastructure resilience, port efficiency, and supply chain cybersecurity.

This is why initiatives like emerging economic corridors connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe matter. Done right, such projects can:

• reduce dependency on fragile chokepoints
• shorten shipment times
• stabilize market access
• create regional interdependence that discourages conflict

In this corridor, the UAE forms the logistical backbone, while Israel reinforces the security and technology spine.

3) Energy security is evolving and this partnership strengthens it:

Energy security is no longer only about oil. It is increasingly defined by reliability, affordability, resilience, and transition.

India remains energy dependent as its economy expands. The United States is increasing its global energy influence while accelerating clean innovation. The UAE has emerged not only as a reliable energy supplier but also as a leader in:

• renewable energy expansion
• climate diplomacy
• clean hydrogen development
• global infrastructure investment

Israel contributes significantly to the long-term resilience of the region through leadership in water security, desalination technology, and climate-adaptation innovation capabilities that will become increasingly indispensable as environmental stress compounds geopolitical tensions.

4) Supporting Israel is essential for regional stability and shared democratic values:

Support for Israel should not be misunderstood as merely symbolic diplomacy. Israel remains central to:

• maintaining regional security
• countering terrorism
• preventing extremist violence against civilians
• serving as a democratic partner in one of the most volatile regions on earth

Israel has faced decades of threats from terrorism and attacks targeting civilians. The United States and like-minded partners should continue to support Israel’s right to exist, to defend its people, and to pursue peace.

Importantly, supporting Israel does not require hostility toward others. It means supporting:

• peace and stability
• rule of law
• counterterrorism
• regional normalization and cooperation

The Abraham Accords demonstrated what becomes possible when courageous diplomacy replaces division. UAE–Israel collaboration has already unlocked economic growth, innovation exchange, and cultural bridges. Expanding that cooperation while engaging India and the United States represents a strategic opportunity the world cannot afford to ignore.

5) Countering extremism and destabilizing actors requires shared capability: 

Security threats across the Middle East and South Asia increasingly overlap. Extremism, radicalization, illicit finance and proxy networks do not respect borders.

Each partner brings unique strengths:

• The UAE has emerged as a leader in modernization and regional stabilization
• India has decades of experience combating cross-border terrorism
• Israel possesses unmatched counterterrorism and intelligence capabilities
• The United States brings global defense coordination and strategic reach

Together, this coalition can meaningfully:

• disrupt terror financing networks
• strengthen maritime security
• coordinate intelligence sharing
• promote stabilization through development and prosperity

This is not just “defense cooperation.” It is security as a platform for peace.

6) Technology and innovation partnerships are the new geopolitical advantages:

The next decade will not be defined solely by military power. Strategic leadership will increasingly depend on dominance in:

• artificial intelligence
• cybersecurity
• semiconductors
• biotech
• digital infrastructure

India’s talent pool, America’s innovation engine, the UAE’s investment capacity, and Israel’s startup ecosystem can form an unmatched innovation corridor, one that not only produces economic breakthroughs but strengthens democratic competitiveness against authoritarian alternatives.

A structured partnership can:

• accelerate secure technology transfer
• strengthen shared cyber defense
• invest in high-impact innovation
• shape global standards for emerging technologies

In today’s world, innovation is not just economic, it is geopolitical.

In conclusion, the future belongs to cooperative regional anchors: The future will not be secured by rhetoric alone. It will be shaped by partnerships that are operational, complementary, and outcome driven.

In that sense, the United States, India, the UAE, and Israel represent one of the most credible and practical frameworks available today capable of protecting peace not only through security, but through prosperity.

Because in the end, the most successful alliances will not simply deter conflict. They will prevent conflict by building opportunity, strengthening stability, and making cooperation more rewarding than confrontation. And that is exactly what this coalition can deliver.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.