Kazakhstan and the Abraham Accords: pragmatism and a bridge of trust Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

Kazakhstan has become the first country to join the Abraham Accords during Donald Trump’s second presidential term, according to the U.S. President. Earlier, the press service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported that the issue was in the final stage of negotiations.

President Trump spoke about his meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, noting that they also held a joint conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump emphasised that Kazakhstan’s accession to the Abraham Accords is “a major step forward in building bridges of peace and prosperity across the world.”

Kazakhstan will become the first Central Asian country to join the initiative since the signing of the accords in 2020.

“Kazakhstan is known to the international community as a firm supporter of strengthening global security. The country is developing constructive cooperation with many nations around the world, including Middle Eastern states and Israel,” the press service of the Kazakh President stated.

It was also added that the expected accession to the accords is a natural and logical continuation of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy course.

This was later confirmed by the U.S. President. “Kazakhstan is the first Country of my Second Term to join the Abraham Accords, the first of many. This is a major step forward in building bridges across the World,” he wrote on Truth Social.

The Abraham Accords are a series of peace agreements signed between Israel and several Arab states—including the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco—during 2020–2021, with the United States acting as mediator. The accords are based on the normalisation of diplomatic relations and the expansion of economic, technological, and defence cooperation between the parties.

What benefits and opportunities does this new format offer Kazakhstan? Could it allow the country to further demonstrate its peacekeeping potential?

Caliber.Az posed these questions to well-known experts from Kazakhstan.

Political analyst Aidar Amrebayev notes that Donald Trump’s second presidential term is marked by vivid events that reflect the extraordinary temperament and character of the American leader, who seeks to demonstrate charisma and leadership through every initiative he undertakes.

“Trump’s peace initiatives alone are worth mentioning—despite the scepticism of many international bureaucrats, they are truly changing the world, reshaping the rules of the game, and building bridges between nations,” the expert stated.

As is well known, he continued, the Abraham Accords were the first peace initiative launched by the U.S. leader during his first term in office.

“I believe this act holds special significance for Trump, as it reveals a new dimension of his political persona. In this context, it seems only logical that the Kazakh President—an experienced diplomat, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev—found his ‘path to the heart’ of the American leader by proposing to be the first to join the Abraham Accords. This elegant move, apparently, has been duly appreciated by the U.S. administration. Now we can expect a new wave of American attention towards Kazakhstan. This will have serious implications for the heart of Eurasia and will alter the balance of power in our vast region with its complex geopolitical dynamics,” Amrebayev concluded.

Political analyst Kazbek Beysebayev, in turn, emphasised that Kazakhstan has indeed become the first country to announce its intention to sign the Abraham Accords during Donald Trump’s second presidential term.

“I believe this news came as something of a surprise to the international community. It should be noted that Kazakhstan has enjoyed very good relations with Israel even without this agreement. To understand this decision, it is important to recall that after the events in Gaza, there was a sharp shift in the positions of leading European countries that had previously maintained a loyal stance towards Israel. As we all remember, on the eve of and during the UN General Assembly session, these countries recognised Palestine’s right to establish its own state. This was a serious blow to Israel.

The United States, as we know, is Israel’s main ally, bound by numerous commitments. The Trump administration, both during its first term and now, has maintained close cooperation with Israel.

Therefore, amid the growing wave of anti-Israeli sentiment, it was extremely important for Trump to demonstrate support for his ally. Kazakhstan’s intention to join the Abraham Accords is also significant for Trump because it allows him to show the world that Israel is a country seeking good neighbourly relations not only with Arab states but also with the broader Muslim world. In this regard, the signing of the accords by a country from an important Muslim region such as Central Asia will serve as a kind of signal to other nations and regions,” the analyst noted.

According to him, it is quite evident that the proposal to sign the Abraham Accords originated from the White House.

“Moreover, it is worth paying attention to another important point. As we know, for Trump, the central principle of global politics has always been the deal.

Hence, I assume that in exchange for signing the Abraham Accords, he offered Kazakhstan something substantial. I believe this involves not only potential relief amid the sanctions war against Russia—Kazakhstan’s ally—but also additional benefits. Possibly, it concerns the vast sums of money that were transferred abroad under the previous leadership and remain in foreign accounts.

Thus, as a result of this decision, Trump gains another laurel as a peacemaker, while Kazakhstan secures its own advantages—details of which we are likely to learn later,” Beysebayev concluded.