Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords with Israel: A Symbolic Move
Kazakhstan is set to join the Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim-majority countries, a move that symbolizes the continuation of an initiative started by President Trump during his first term. The announcement, made on Thursday, carries mostly symbolic weight as Kazakhstan has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel since 1992, and is geographically distant from Israel compared to other accord nations like Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates.
These four countries normalized relations with Israel upon joining the accords, a step Kazakhstan took shortly after gaining independence post-Soviet Union. Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday, sharing that he facilitated a “great call” between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, adding that Kazakhstan’s accession is the “first Country of my Second Term to join the Abraham Accords, the first of many.”
Trump described Kazakhstan’s move as a significant step forward in fostering global bridges and predicted more nations would follow suit by joining the accords. A signing ceremony will formalize the agreement, according to Trump, who noted there are numerous other countries eager to become part of this “club of STRENGTH.”
Later on Thursday, Trump hosted a summit with leaders from Kazakhstan and four other Central Asian nations during which he emphasized the potential for further country additions to the Abraham Accords. When questioned about Kazakhstan’s entry into the accords in light of existing diplomatic ties between the two nations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted an “enhanced relationship… beyond just diplomatic relations,” with plans for unique economic development and cooperation across various sectors like defense, cybersecurity, energy, and food technology.
U.S. officials attribute Kazakhstan’s participation to the Trump-driven peace plan for Gaza, which they believe has altered global perceptions of Israel, leading to a willingness among nations to “move toward the circle of peace.” The official noted that previous bilateral agreements between Israel and Kazakhstan date back to the mid-1990s, covering similar areas.
During a breakfast meeting on Thursday, Rubio and Tokayev discussed expanding trade, investment, and cooperation in energy, technology, and infrastructure, according to a State Department statement.