The Trump administration sees the move as an opportunity to spark renewed interest in the accords across the Muslim world
Kazakhstan will become the latest nation to join the Trump administration’s historic Abraham Accords later on Thursday, making it the sixth country to sign onto the pact meant to normalize relations between Israel and Muslim-majority nations, a U.S. official confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon.
While Israel and Kazakhstan have enjoyed full diplomatic ties since 1992, the latter’s addition to the Accords presents benefits for both sides. The Trump administration sees an opportunity to spark renewed interest in the Abraham Accords across the Muslim world, according to Axios, which first reported the story. The agreement—struck in 2020 between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco—has not seen any additions since President Donald Trump’s first term, and Thursday’s news could set the stage for more countries to join. Kazakhstan’s decision to enter the Accords also presents Israel with a diplomatic victory after two years of war against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
“This is going to show that the Abraham Accords is a club that many countries want to be a member of, and it will be a step for turning the page on the war in Gaza and moving forward towards more peace and cooperation in the region,” a U.S. official told Axios.
The news comes after a wave of mainstream reporting suggesting Israel has fewer friends than ever. Over the past few months, CNN published a story claiming that “Israel is becoming a pariah on the international stage,” NPR said that “outcry over the war in Gaza” left “Israel diplomatically isolated,” and Politico Europe asserted that “Israel’s isolation is no longer theoretical.” Some European leaders, like German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, made similar arguments, with Wadephul stating that “Israel is finding itself increasingly in the minority.”
The Abraham Accords remained dormant during former president Joe Biden’s term in office, with Israel’s war against Hamas and Biden’s demands for an unfriendly ceasefire scuttling further progress. With Trump’s Gaza peace plan now in place, though, the president has the opportunity to secure a larger agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has long been rumored as a potential addition to the Abraham Accords.
Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Thursday that Israel and Saudi Arabia are moving closer to establishing direct talks aimed at normalization, with the United States as mediator. Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit Washington, D.C., in two weeks, and both sides of the negotiations would reportedly like to be able to announce progress during his trip.
Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reportedly lobbied the White House to bring his country into the pact ahead of his Thursday visit for a summit with Trump and leaders of several other Central Asian countries. Tokayev and Trump will hold a call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Thursday to formalize the agreement, according to Axios.
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