Kazakhstan is set to become the newest member of the Abraham Accords, a US-led initiative that normalized ties between Israel and several Muslim nations. A senior American official confirmed the plan ahead of the formal announcement.

Kazakhstan already has full diplomatic and trade relations with Israel. Still, joining the accords adds symbolic importance. It highlights US efforts to strengthen the framework during the ongoing Gaza crisis.

President Tokayev to Meet Trump

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will meet US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. Four other Central Asian leaders will also attend. The meeting aims to boost US influence in a region long shaped by Russia and increasingly linked to China.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned the upcoming announcement at a Florida business forum, saying he was returning to Washington for it. He did not name the country.

Axios first reported that the nation was Kazakhstan. A Reuters source confirmed that Washington hopes the move will revive the Abraham Accords, which have slowed during the Gaza war.

Trump Seeks to Expand the Accords

Donald Trump, who first brokered the accords, has said he wants to expand them in his current term.

The Abraham Accords began in 2020, when the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain established diplomatic ties with Israel. Morocco joined later that year.

Trump believes Saudi Arabia could also join after the recent Gaza ceasefire, though Riyadh insists it needs a clear path to Palestinian statehood first.

Saudi Visit and Regional Expansion

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit the White House on November 18. The visit could decide the next phase of talks.

Other Central Asian countries, including Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, may also join the accords. Both nations already maintain strong ties with Israel.

For Trump, expanding the accords remains a top diplomatic goal and a major foreign policy success from his first term.