During Saturday’s call with leaders from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, Trump pushed countries without Israel ties to join the Abraham Accords framework after a U.S.-Iran deal.
The emerging memorandum requires Iran to dispose of enriched uranium and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with no sanctions relief until compliance and a tight deadline of days.
Qatar is not a signatory to the Abraham Accords and does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel. The Qatari government has historically prioritized acting as a neutral diplomatic mediator and maintaining open channels with all regional parties, including hosting Hamas members for negotiations.
While the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed offered support for the talks, Saudi Arabia insists on a firm path to Palestinian statehood, leaving expansion uncertain amid war tensions and regional demands.
The UAE and Israel established full diplomatic relations, exchanged ambassadors, and signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to boost trade.
The Accords formalized covert security and defense partnerships, altering strategic dynamics in the Gulf region.
Despite regional turbulence, the UAE has continued to maintain its strategic, security, and economic ties with Israel.
Pakistan’s position
Pakistan joined the international “Board of Peace” initiative aimed at stabilizing Gaza. However, the Foreign Office categorically clarified that this participation does not equal recognizing Israel or joining the Abraham Accords.
Washington has historically encouraged Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, to normalize ties with Israel, though Islamabad consistently pushes back against these pressures.
Pakistan previously refused to join the Abraham Accords and does not maintain diplomatic or trade relations with Israel, but since Field Marshal Asim Munir is driving the Iran deal, Islamabad may recognise Israel by signing the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Position
Saudi Arabia has expressed willingness to join the Abraham Accords and normalize ties with Israel, but has made it strictly conditional on a clear, guaranteed pathway toward a two-state solution for the Palestinians.
Saudi leadership maintains that recognizing Israel requires an official path to Palestinian statehood, along with a firm resolution regarding Palestinian territories based on United Nations parameters.
Bringing Saudi Arabia into the fold is a major focus for Washington. Negotiations have also reportedly involved Saudi Arabia seeking a mutual defense pact with the United States, as well as cooperation on civil nuclear programs.
The U.S. has been actively pressing Gulf and Arab leaders to establish official diplomatic ties with Israel as part of broader regional peace and stabilization plans, though a final Saudi-Israeli deal remains a complex, ongoing process.
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