W Asia Quad to work on infra, clean energy: Israel minister

NEW DELHI: The

West Asia Quad

will “work together on infrastructure, transport, ports, trains, maritime security, digital infrastructure, clean energy... all of the issues that preoccupy us,” said Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister and alternate Prime Minister in an exclusive interview to TOI on Monday.

“The four countries represented have a unique set of capabilities, knowledge, and experience, and what we hope to do is make sure all of that translates as quickly as possible into real commerce and real construction around the globe,” he said. Ringing in the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, Lapid described India-Israel ties as a “multifaceted strategic partnership”.

India and Israel are negotiating a free trade agreement which aims to be a done deal over the next few months. “The areas in which our bilateral cooperation focuses today are representative of Israel’s continuing interests in the Indo-Pacific as a whole: overcoming the global pandemic, fighting terrorism, expanding trade, and addressing the threat posed by climate change,” Lapid said.

The Quad West, Lapid said would focus primarily on infrastructure. “The primary area identified in our initial meeting was infrastructure, including transportation and seaports.”

Sidestepping a question on his country’s relationship with China, which has invited some criticism from the US, Lapid said, Israel is pursuing relations with “many countries in the region”. Looking ahead at growing ties in a postpandemic world, Lapid said, climate change would be a focus area for both countries.