Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to normalize relations with Israel, framing the move as a “mandatory” step for Muslim-majority nations that participated in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a statement released through his Truth Social platform, Trump explicitly linked the Abraham Accords—a series of diplomatic agreements brokered during his administration that established formal ties between Israel and several Arab states—to a broader regional realignment. His remarks come as the Biden administration continues to navigate the geopolitical fallout of the Iran deal’s revival under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump had withdrawn from in 2018.
The push for normalization extends beyond the Gulf states to include Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, countries that already maintain decades-long diplomatic ties with Israel but have not signed the Abraham Accords. Trump’s intervention underscores a persistent divide within the U.S. Foreign policy establishment over how to balance engagement with Iran against deepening strategic partnerships in the Middle East. While Saudi Arabia and Qatar have signaled openness to incremental diplomatic steps with Israel in recent months—including indirect talks mediated by U.S. Officials—their positions remain contingent on broader regional security guarantees, particularly in light of escalating tensions with Iran and its proxies.
Pakistan, which has historically maintained a cautious stance toward Israel, has not engaged in direct negotiations despite occasional backchannel discussions. Islamabad’s relationship with Tehran, coupled with its strategic alliance with China, complicates any potential shift toward normalization. Analysts note that Trump’s framing of the issue as “mandatory” risks alienating key U.S. Allies in the region, particularly those wary of perceived coercion in diplomatic processes. The Biden administration has not yet responded to Trump’s remarks, though White House officials have previously emphasized a “step-by-step” approach to regional diplomacy, prioritizing stability over rapid normalization.
Trump’s call for expanded Abraham Accords aligns with his broader foreign policy agenda, which has emphasized isolating Iran and strengthening Israel’s regional alliances. However, the feasibility of his proposal hinges on overcoming long-standing objections from Muslim-majority states, many of which cite Palestinian statehood as a precondition for deeper engagement with Israel. The Abraham Accords, which include the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, have already faced criticism from Palestinian leadership and some Arab governments for sidelining the Palestinian cause in favor of bilateral economic and security cooperation.
In the immediate term, Trump’s remarks are likely to intensify scrutiny over the Biden administration’s handling of Middle East diplomacy, particularly as it seeks to reconcile U.S. Interests in countering Iranian influence with the demands of traditional allies. While Saudi Arabia and Qatar have engaged in limited dialogue with Israel in recent years—including a 2020 virtual summit between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—the absence of a formal agreement reflects deeper strategic calculations. For Pakistan, any move toward normalization would require overcoming domestic political sensitivities, particularly from religious and political factions opposed to engagement with Israel.
Diplomatic sources in the region indicate that while there is no immediate timeline for new agreements, the Trump administration’s renewed advocacy could accelerate informal discussions. However, the absence of a clear U.S. Strategy to address Palestinian concerns remains a significant hurdle. The Biden administration’s reluctance to endorse Trump’s approach—particularly given its own emphasis on multilateral diplomacy—suggests that any progress will depend on incremental, behind-the-scenes negotiations rather than public declarations.
