Following in the footsteps of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, a fifth Muslim state is expected to sign onto the historic Abraham Accords in January, signifying the Trump Administration’s final push to pursue peace and stability in the Middle East, according to the White House.
“We remain hard at work at implementing, solidifying, and expanding the Abraham Accords,” a senior administration official told The Foreign Desk.
“Other countries have expressed interest, and we are in active discussions with them. Come January, we’re not letting the foot off the pedal one bit, so stay tuned,” the official said.
Recent events indicate that Oman, Mauritania, Niger, or Saudi Arabia may be considering normalizing relations with Israel; although, it remains uncertain which country will be the next signatory.
Israel’s relations with Saudi Arabia have been warming in recent months, as was seen in November when Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a senior Israeli cabinet member, hinting at the possibility of normalized relations in the future.
However, Saudi Arabia has historically supported the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which may complicate attempts at normalization.
Oman is another possible future signatory, openly supporting Morocco’s normalization with Israel and praising the Abraham Accord’s efforts to create peace in the Middle East.
“(Oman) welcomes what Morocco’s King Mohammed VI announced in his phone calls with US President Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and hopes this will further endeavor to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” Oman said in an official statement.
Mauritania and Niger are thought to be considering warming relations with Israel due to their previous history of diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, with Mauritania also stating its belief in the UAE’s “wisdom and good judgement” following the UAE’s decision to sign the accords in August.
The Abraham Accords Declaration encourages “efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Abrahamic religions and all humanity,” seeking “tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith, or ethnicity.”
