NK MONITORING DESK
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Kazakhstan has agreed in principle to join the Abraham Accords, marking another step in the initiative aimed at expanding cooperation between Israel and Muslim-majority countries.
Trump said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev before making the announcement. Posting on Truth Social, he added that a formal signing ceremony would take place soon and hinted that more nations were looking to join what he called a “club of strength.”
Kazakhstan’s government later confirmed that discussions were reaching their final phase. The statement described the move as a continuation of the country’s long-standing diplomatic approach, emphasizing regional peace and dialogue.
Although Kazakhstan already maintains full diplomatic and trade ties with Israel, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that joining the accords would elevate the relationship beyond traditional diplomacy by opening new avenues for economic and strategic collaboration with all member states.
Trump met Tokayev at the White House alongside leaders from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region historically aligned with Russia and increasingly targeted by China. Trump hinted that additional Central Asian nations may follow Kazakhstan’s lead.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff earlier suggested an announcement was imminent, without naming the country. Axios was the first to report that Kazakhstan was preparing to join.
Officials familiar with the process say Washington hopes Kazakhstan’s inclusion will inject new momentum into the Abraham Accords, whose expansion had slowed during the Gaza conflict.
Trump has frequently signaled his intention to broaden the accords, a key diplomatic initiative from his first term. The UAE and Bahrain signed on in 2020, followed by Morocco later that year.
Trump has also spoken optimistically about Saudi Arabia joining since the Gaza ceasefire took effect, though Riyadh has maintained it will not move forward without a credible path toward a Palestinian state. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is expected to visit the White House on November 18.
Other regional players, including Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan—both of which maintain close ties with Israel—are also viewed as potential future members of the accords.
Read more:https://nayakashmir.com/trump-says-iran-seeking-relief-from-harsh-u-s-sanctions/
