Kazakhstan Joins Abraham Accords: A Diplomatic Update
Washington hailed Kazakhstan's accession to the Abraham Accords as a significant diplomatic achievement. US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday evening that Kazakhstan would join the Israel-led normalization framework launched during his first term.
“Kazakhstan is the first country of my second term to join the Abraham Accords, the first of many,” Trump said after a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Trump added, “Today, more nations are lining up to embrace peace and prosperity… real progress, real results.” The US ambassador to the United Nations further commented, “Is anyone getting tired of more peace?”
Context and Reactions in Israel
Despite the positive tone from US officials, the response in Israel was more restrained. Local social media pointed out that this announcement is less momentous than previous normalization deals with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco in 2020. This is because Israel and Kazakhstan have maintained full diplomatic relations for over 30 years.
Diplomatic History Between Israel and Kazakhstan
- Official diplomatic ties were established on April 10, 1992.
- Embassies were opened shortly after establishing relations in both countries.
- The bilateral relationship includes economic cooperation, defense trade, and continuous diplomatic engagement.
Diplomatic records confirm the long-standing ties between Israel and Kazakhstan, making the Abraham Accords addition more symbolic than foundational.
Author's Summary
Kazakhstan's joining of the Abraham Accords marks a symbolic reaffirmation of its existing long-term ties with Israel, seen as an easy diplomatic win for the Trump administration.