Israeli-Arab Accords Key to Middle East Security: Shapiro

Israeli-Arab normalization agreements reached in 2020 have continued to hold despite major regional shocks, according to testimony delivered by Atlantic Council fellow Daniel B. Shapiro to a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa on July 22.

The hearing focused on how durable the Abraham Accords have been and how a broader framework for security cooperation is operating as conflicts persist across the Middle East and North Africa. Shapiro said the region has faced significant geopolitical volatility, including a conflict with Iran that began in February 2025.

Security coordination under CENTCOM

Shapiro pointed to Israel’s integration into the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility as a key operational shift that has enabled closer defense coordination among partners. He said this arrangement supported concrete cooperation, including the deployment of Iron Dome systems to the United Arab Emirates.

In his testimony, Shapiro described these security mechanisms as a central factor in sustaining stability when military tensions rise. He presented defense coordination as a practical connector that reinforces bilateral relationships established by the 2020 agreements.

Regional initiatives slowed after October 2023 attacks

Shapiro said some integration efforts have faced delays after the October 2023 attacks, even as participants continue to view them as relevant tools for dealing with shared threats. He cited the Negev Forum and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as examples of frameworks that were disrupted but are still being pursued.

Atlantic Council

The testimony framed these initiatives as part of a broader effort to deepen cooperation beyond formal diplomatic recognition, linking security collaboration with economic and regional planning tracks.

From diplomatic milestone to working partnerships

Shapiro told lawmakers that the Abraham Accords have moved beyond being primarily symbolic diplomatic breakthroughs and have evolved into functioning security and economic partnerships. He said the bilateral relationships created under the agreements have remained intact despite the broader instability affecting the region.

He also described constraints on additional expansion of the Accords. In his account, future progress depends on managing complex public opinion dynamics within Arab states while also responding to heightened security requirements shaped by the current regional environment.