Jerusalem: Kazakhstan has announced its decision to join the Abraham Accords, becoming the fifth Muslim-majority country to normalize relations with Israel. The move expands the US-brokered agreement, which was first signed in 2020 by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
The formal announcement is expected at a White House meeting between US President Donald Trump and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kazakhstan has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Israel since 1992, making the decision largely symbolic. However, it signals an effort to revive the accords, which have stalled during the Gaza conflict.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that a new country would be joining the accords but did not reveal the name ahead of the Washington event. Analysts view Kazakhstan’s move as part of a broader push to strengthen economic and political cooperation with both the United States and Israel.
Experts also see the development as part of Washington’s strategy to expand the accords beyond Arab nations to other Muslim-majority states. President Tokayev has emphasized the importance of diversifying Kazakhstan’s partnerships and deepening ties with the US.
The decision also reflects Kazakhstan’s intent to balance its foreign policy amid competing influences from Russia and China in the region. With this step, the Central Asian nation joins a growing group of Muslim countries engaging with Israel under the Abraham Accords framework.
