Kazakhstan to Join Abraham Accords at Central Asia Summit
WASHINGTON — On Thursday night, Kazakhstan is expected to be announced as the newest member of the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic agreement that has normalized relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority nations.
Kazakhstan already maintains full diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, so this development will be largely symbolic.
Summit and Political Meetings
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House, along with four other Central Asian leaders. This gathering reflects the U.S. effort to increase its influence in Central Asia, a region historically dominated by Russia and increasingly courted by China.
U.S. Special Envoy Remarks
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, speaking at a business forum in Florida, mentioned that he would be returning to Washington for the announcement but did not specify the country involved.
“We hope Kazakhstan's entry will help reinvigorate the Abraham Accords,” a source familiar with the matter said, noting that the expansion of the accords has paused during the Gaza war.
Background
- The Abraham Accords foster normalized relations between Israel and Muslim-majority countries.
- Kazakhstan has existing strong diplomatic and economic ties to Israel.
- The U.S. seeks to expand influence in Central Asia amid regional Russian and Chinese interests.
Author's summary: Kazakhstan's expected joining of the Abraham Accords marks a symbolic step to boost the U.S. presence in Central Asia and revive regional diplomacy amid ongoing Gaza conflict tensions.