The Trump administration is in advanced talks with Azerbaijan — and potentially key Central Asian allies — to join the Abraham Accords, signaling a major diplomatic push to reshape alliances in the Middle East.
Washington / Baku — In a bold diplomatic push, US President Donald Trump is working to bring Azerbaijan — and possibly several Central Asian allies — into the landmark Abraham Accords, according to Reuters.
The move would deepen trade, defense, and strategic cooperation between Israel and Muslim-majority states, further cementing a regional alliance at a time of rising instability in the Middle East.
Beyond Ties — Toward Symbolism and Strategy
While Azerbaijan and most Central Asian states already maintain ties with Israel, their formal entry into the Abraham Accords would serve as a powerful political symbol, expanding the peace framework Trump brokered in 2020.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku this March, followed by further springtime negotiations led by adviser Aryeh Lightstone. Sources say Baku has quietly reached out to other Central Asian nations to explore a joint accession into the accords.
A Delicate Backdrop — Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace
One critical factor in the talks: the long-running Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict. Trump has voiced optimism on this front, declaring:
“Armenia and Azerbaijan, we worked magic there. And it’s pretty close.”
The US hopes that progress toward peace will clear the path for Azerbaijan to formally join the accords.
The Bigger Picture
A US official confirmed that expanding the Abraham Accords remains a top priority:
“We are working to get more countries to join.”
Since their signing in September 2020 at the White House between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain — later joined by Morocco and Sudan — the accords have been a cornerstone of Trump’s Middle East policy.
While the Biden administration sought to expand the pact, it failed to bring in new members, including Saudi Arabia, despite extensive talks.
Trump Confident of More Signatories
Trump has repeatedly signaled confidence that momentum is building again. In April, he said:
“We’re going to be filling it up. A lot of countries want to come into the Abraham Accords.”
And in late June, Witkoff teased a looming breakthrough:
“We think we will have big announcements on countries that are coming into the Abraham Accords.”
If successful, Azerbaijan’s entry — potentially alongside Central Asian partners — would mark the first major expansion of the accords in years, reshaping the strategic map of the Middle East and reinforcing Trump’s role as its chief architect.
