The Middle East is entering a decisive era of strategic reorganization, reshaping its security architecture around three pivotal axes: the Abraham Accords, the Middle East Air Defense (MEAD) Alliance, and Israel’s integration into the Global Alliance System.
These frameworks are not merely diplomatic milestones; they represent the scaffolding of a new regional order where technology, intelligence, and joint defense increasingly define stability.
The Abraham Accords, Israel’s normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, have become the infrastructure for building a multinational security system. After Operation Swords of Iron, the question is whether these accords have passed the test.
The answer is complex. At the diplomatic level, relations have survived and even deepened in some cases.
The UAE continued its economic cooperation and supported the cease-fire talks, while also investing in Israel's technological ecosystem. However, at the public level, some countries reduced public visibility due to popular and regional pressure.
According to foreign sources, real cooperation exists, especially in counter-intelligence against Iranian activities and terrorist threats. In contrast, cooperation in air defense remains partial and depends on political sensitivity.
The Abraham Accords are no longer just a diplomatic framework. They are an active, albeit cautious, security network.
MEAD Alliance history and influence
In June 2022, Israel announced that it had joined several other Middle Eastern countries to form a new US-led joint air defense network, known as the Middle East Air Defense Alliance (MEAD).
The MEAD alliance emerged from the deepening security ties between Israel and the Gulf states. It unifies warning capabilities, radars, and interception systems into a regional defense layer against Iranian UAVs and missiles.
And in April 2024, the UAE and other Arab states helped shoot down Iranian drones and missiles aimed at Israel, showcasing a willingness to take concrete steps to prevent regional military escalation.
Gulf states, namely Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman (and potentially Saudi Arabia), have committed to investing over US $15 billion in 2025-2030 to upgrade defense networks and aerial intelligence. For Israel, the alliance constitutes a dual strategic channel that strengthens regional deterrence while opening markets for the share of defense technologies.
Why hasn't Saudi Arabia officially signed on to MEAD? Despite technical readiness, Saudi Arabia refrains from a formal agreement due to internal sensitivity and pressure from the Arab world.
And what are the roles of Egypt and Jordan? Both countries serve as mediators and stability factors, but are not integral to the alliance due to their different histories and political sensitivities.
Israel in the Global Alliance system
Israel has become a technological-strategic node between three major systems: NATO, Asia, and the Gulf. It brings flexibility, innovation, and combat experience that most of its partners lack. It is establishing its status as the "security brain of the Middle East," a complementary force to the major systems.
However, Israel's status as a technological node is not immune. It must maneuver through complex challenges.
With a dependence on the United States vs a desire for diversification, Israel seeks to preserve the special relationship with the country while developing independent partnerships to avoid over-dependence. Sales of systems like Phalcon to Asian countries have previously sparked tensions with Washington.
Arms sales to both sides in the conflict area are a reality. For example, Exports to India raise sensitivities in Pakistan. Israel must balance economic interests with maintaining relations with all sides.
In the meantime, EU pressure on the Palestinian issue influences Israeli behaviour. Some countries condition security cooperation on political progress in the Palestinian arena, bringing a limitation that Israel encounters primarily in European multinational projects.
Regarding competition among partners, selling air defense technologies to both Europe and the Gulf raises concerns about knowledge leakage and competition among clients.
Israel must simultaneously manage trust relationships with parties that sometimes view each other as rivals. And Israeli defense spending reflects the reality of ongoing threats, as well as the central role Israel plays as an R&D and security innovation hub.
Defense Spending as % of GDP (2025)
| Country | % of GDP | Notes |
| Israel | 4.5% | Highest in the West |
| Poland | 4.1% | Sharp increase since 2022 |
| United States | 3.4% | Relatively stable |
| United Kingdom | 2.3% | Increase due to AUKUS |
| Germany | 2.1% | Significant increase from 1.4% |
| Greece | 3.0% | High due to tension with Turkey |
| UAE | 5.6% | Highest in the Gulf |
| India | 2.4% | Expected Increase |
The coming decade of 2025-2035 is expected to be an era of smart security networks, not classical alliances, but systems that integrate militaries for joint warfare, intelligence, and industry. Partnerships are built around innovation, industrial resilience, and rapid response capability more than around ideology.
Thanks to its location, connections, and capabilities, Israel is expected to continue serving as a central engine in shaping the new security order, where stability is built through technology, information sharing, and secured supply chains, not only through military force.
The central question
For Israel, the central question is not whether to integrate into the new alliance system, but how to navigate between competing systems without falling into over-dependence or indirect conflicts.
The opportunity is enormous: Israel can be the technological node connecting NATO, Asia, and the Gulf, providing solutions that no single player can offer. But the risk is real: Failed navigation could lead to isolation, missed markets, or tensions with key allies.
The key to success, therefore, lies in maintaining technological independence, diversifying partnerships, and carefully managing tensions between competing interests. This way, Israel can not only survive in the new world order but shape it.