Trump İd administration Plans to Include Azerbaijan and Central Asian Countries in Abraham Accords

According to reports, the Trump administration is planning to include Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries in the Abraham Accords. The administration hopes to deepen the existing relationships between these countries and Israel.

Sources speaking to Reuters suggest that Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries have long been in relations with Israel, and expanding the agreements to include these countries will carry a symbolic meaning; focusing on strengthening relations in areas such as trade and military cooperation.

This possible expansion will reflect Trump’s openness to less ambitious agreements other than convincing regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia to re-establish relations with Israel while the war continues in Gaza. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that it will not recognize Israel without steps being taken to recognize the Palestinian state. The increasing death toll in Gaza, the prevention of aid, and the military operations by Israel have fueled anger in the Arab world.

Relations with Armenia are a significant issue

Sources speaking to Reuters noted that given the Trump administration’s consideration that a peace accord between the two Caucasian countries is a prerequisite for joining the Abraham Accords, the conflict between Azerbaijan and its neighbor Armenia is another significant issue.

According to sources, the administration has publicly announced several potential members to the agreement, but discussions involving Azerbaijan are among the most structured and serious negotiations.

Two sources stated that talks including Central Asia are still in the early stages, but discussions with Azerbaijan have relatively progressed.

“Deal could be reached within a few weeks”

Two sources contended that a deal could be reached within a few months, or even a few weeks.

Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited the capital city of Azerbaijan, Baku, in March to meet with President Ilham Aliyev. Aryeh Lightstone, a key aide to Witkoff, met with Aliyev in the following months to discuss the Abraham Accords. As part of the discussions, Azerbaijani officials reached out to officials in Central Asian countries, including nearby Kazakhstan, to gauge interest in the expansion of the Abraham Accords to a wider range.

During Trump’s first term, the Abraham Accords signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan focused on re-establishing relations. Azerbaijan, squeezed between Russia to the north and Iran to the south, is a critical link in the flow of trade between Central Asia and the West.

Expanding the agreement to countries that already have diplomatic relations with Israel could also be a way for Trump to claim symbolic victories.