"News from the Field" Army Middle East and North Africa FAOs Discuss the Abraham Accords During Second Virtual Conference
By Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Mann, U.S. Army; and Major Ethan Orwin, U.S. Army
In a follow up to an extremely successful virtual conference held earlier this summer, the U.S. Army Middle East and North Africa Foreign Area Officer (FAO) community held their second virtual conference on 27 October 2020. While the first conference primarily focused on the Army FAO profession and how the region is addressing Great Power Competition, the intent of this latest event was to conduct a topical deep-dive on the Abraham Accords. The three-hour event brought together over 85 FAOs serving across multiple embassies, combatant commands, component commands and the National Capital Region.
For a bit of background, the Abraham Accords are the series of peace and “normalization” accords that Israel recently completed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Sudan. In all three cases, U.S. mediation between the parties played a determining role. The accords constitute the most meaningful formal change in Arab-Israeli relations since at least the early 1990s. They will affect not only those nations’ bilateral and multilateral relations, but also the wider security environment in the region, with major ramifications for FAOs and their work.
The host of the conference, BG Keith Phillips (SDO/DATT UAE) kicked off the event by emphasizing the strategic significance of these latest diplomatic developments and realization that junior FAOs would likely be inheriting a significantly transformed strategic environment. As the community’s senior officer and mentor, he also emphasized the importance of serving as strategic scouts for field commanders and to ensure we remain grounded, both ethically and professionally.
The conference itself was composed of three thirty-minute panels. The first panel focused on changes in the strategic environment, both in Israel and the Arabian Gulf, that created a ripe environment for change. Common themes included the realization that the current generation of Gulf leaders viewed the Palestinian issue through a different lens, and a consensus that Iranian aggression continues to present the greatest perceived existential threat to their security and survival.
The second panel then focused on the “Commander’s Intent” of these accords from a policy perspective. A key takeaway was the desire to ensure these latest accords moved beyond the “cold peace” agreements with Egypt and Jordan into a “warm peace” of both civil and security linkages. Finally, the third panel delved into the potential implications, from both security assistance and policy perspectives, of these developments. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) experts stressed the likely continuity in relevant security cooperation processes despite the political spotlight on the accords. Speakers involved in national-level policymaking outlined the approach the U.S. is hoping to see as the parties to the accords move forward, in addition to some strides already achieved.
Panelists included FAOs currently assigned to relevant country teams, CENTCOM, the Department of State, and the National Security Council. Their subject matter expertise and perspectives were a testament to the important jobs held by Army FAOs and the work they do for the Army and nation.
Remarks by GEN Christopher Cavoli, CG USAREUR, were a major highlight. He commented on the accords’ significance in a time of increasing great power tension and shifts in alliances. GEN Cavoli also outlined the vital characteristics that enable FAOs to function as a bridge between U.S. and host nation leaders and institutions. He went on to examine the role FAOs might play during eras of change, and the traits that bring success in such times.
While the previous conference leveraged the Webex platform, this event utilized MS Teams, with similar success. Similarly, Teams offered presenters the ability to either videoconference or phone dial-in, while participants largely leaned upon the chat function to ask questions or add comments. The sessions were not recorded, however a note-taker consolidated the discussion points so that they could be shared with the community and those who were unable to attend.
As travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic endure, virtual forums, such as this conference, remain a critical tool in keeping the Army Middle East / North Africa FAO community professionally and socially connected. Quarterly or biannual meetings will likely continue as these restrictions remain in place, or even beyond.
About the authors
Lieutenant Colonel Mann has been a Middle East and North Africa FAO since 2008. He currently serves as an Instruction at the Joint Military Attaché School (JMAS). His previous FAO experience includes assignments in Oman, Lebanon and Human Resources Command.
Major Orwin has been a Middle East and North Africa FAO since 2015. He is currently in training for an Attaché assignment in the region. He served previously as a liaison officer in Israel.