WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said he expects more Arab nations to join the Abraham Accords soon, expressing optimism that Saudi Arabia could play a pivotal role in expanding the historic peace agreements that normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states.
Trump believes Saudi Arabia’s inclusion would be a game-changer, saying that once the kingdom joins, other nations across the Muslim world are likely to follow. He views Riyadh as the missing piece that could unlock broader regional acceptance of Israel and pave the way for lasting peace in the Middle East.
In a recent interview on Fox Business Network, Trump said he had “some very good conversations” with countries showing interest in joining the accords, adding that he believed “they’re going to all go in very soon.” He expressed hope that Saudi Arabia, the most influential Arab nation, would eventually join the pact, which could, in his words, “bring everyone in.”
The origins of the Abraham Accords
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 during Trump’s term, marked a major diplomatic shift in the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were the first to formalise relations with Israel, breaking a 25-year freeze in Arab-Israeli diplomacy. Morocco and Sudan followed soon after, with each nation seeking stronger economic and security ties with Israel and the United States.
The accords were named after Abraham, the biblical patriarch regarded as a common ancestor by Jews and Arabs, symbolising coexistence and shared faith. Trump hailed the agreements as “the dawn of a new Middle East” during the White House signing ceremony, calling them a step toward peace and prosperity in a region long scarred by conflict.
Trump’s new push for Middle East peace
Trump’s latest remarks come amid renewed efforts to broker peace following the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Speaking in Israel earlier this week, he described the truce as “the historic dawn of a new Middle East” and suggested that his administration’s previous diplomatic groundwork could serve as a foundation for long-term stability.
He also revived his ambitious proposal for wider reconciliation in the region, even hinting at a potential peace deal between Israel and Iran. “Wouldn’t it be nice?” he asked, suggesting that Tehran, despite its long-standing hostility towards Israel, might be open to dialogue in the future.
Trump credited his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for laying the groundwork for the Abraham Accords, saying Kushner “did something very special” by bringing together countries that had long refused to recognise Israel.
What the accords have achieved so far
The Abraham Accords have transformed the geopolitical and economic landscape of the Middle East. Trade between Israel and the UAE, for instance, surpassed $3 billion in 2024, with growing cooperation in technology, energy, tourism, and defence. Regular flights between Tel Aviv and Dubai have become common, symbolising a new era of people-to-people exchange.
Morocco, another signatory, has also benefited from the accords, with Israeli tourism and investment increasing. In return, Washington formally recognised Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara, adding a layer of political incentive to the deal.
Bahrain’s experience has been more mixed, with limited economic gains and domestic opposition leading to sporadic protests against the agreements. Meanwhile, the Palestinian issue remains unresolved. Israeli settlements in the West Bank have expanded, and the vision of a two-state solution appears increasingly distant.
Will Saudi Arabia join next?
For many diplomats and analysts, Saudi Arabia remains the ultimate goal of the Abraham Accords. As the largest economy in the Arab world and home to Islam’s two holiest sites, its participation would be seen as a major step toward reshaping the region’s political order.
Trump said he believes that if Saudi Arabia joins, “everybody goes in,” suggesting that the kingdom’s move would trigger a domino effect among other Muslim nations.
However, Riyadh has maintained that it will not recognise Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously said that Saudi Arabia supports peace, but not at the expense of Palestinian sovereignty.
The ongoing war in Gaza and Israel’s actions there have also hardened public sentiment in the Arab world, making it politically difficult for Saudi leaders to move forward with normalisation talks.
A fragile but hopeful path forward
Despite the challenges, Trump remains confident that the momentum behind the Abraham Accords will return. The ceasefire in Gaza, coupled with shifting alliances in the region, could revive interest among countries like Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and even post-Assad Syria, where new leadership has signalled openness to joining the pact.
Five years after the first signatures, the accords have not ended the Arab-Israeli conflict, but they have changed its shape. What began as a symbolic gesture of peace has evolved into a network of economic, diplomatic, and cultural ties that continue to grow.
Whether Saudi Arabia’s inclusion could turn that network into a true foundation for regional peace remains to be seen, but Trump’s remarks suggest he believes that moment may not be far away.