Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan pose for a photo on the Blue Room Balcony after signing the Abraham Accords at the White House in Washington, Sept. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (May 25, 2026) called on Muslim-majority nations in West Asia and beyond to establish normalised relations with Israel in the context of the developing peace agreement with Iran.
In his Truth Social post, Mr. Trump listed countries whose leaders he spoke with on Saturday (May 23) about efforts to end the war with Iran, which included the signing of the Abraham Accords.
So what are the Abraham Accords, and which countries are involved in it? Let’s dive in.
What is Abraham Accords?
The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements brokered by Mr. Trump in 2020, which were widely recognised as a significant achievement in foreign policy.
These accords marked a pivotal shift in the relationships between Israel and several Arab nations. With robust bipartisan support from the United States, four countries began diplomatic efforts to formalise ties with Israel between August and December 2020. These ties were also driven by a common apprehension regarding Iran’s regional power and nuclear initiatives, as well as to strengthen relations with the United States.
Follow Iran-Israel war LIVE updates on May 26, 2026
How many countries signed the Abraham Accords?
The signing of these agreements marked a pivotal shift in West Asian geopolitics, moving from decades of conflict and hostility to a framework that emphasises peace and international collaboration.
Key Players
1. United States: The U.S. played a crucial role as a mediator and facilitator of these agreements.
2. United Arab Emirates (UAE): By normalising relations with Israel, the UAE sought to enhance its economic prospects. help move beyond the hostilities and strife to engage in peace and prosperity.
3. Bahrain: Similar to the UAE, Bahrain recognised the potential economic benefits of normalising relations with Israel.
4. Israel: For Israel, these agreements represented a significant diplomatic loophole, expanding its circle of recognition in the Arab world.
5. Morocco: Three months later, in December 2020, Morocco joined the process, signing a normalisation agreement with Israel.
6. Kosovo and Sudan: Following the initial agreements, these countries also sought to establish or strengthen ties with Israel.
Will other Arab States join the Accords?
Expanding the accords to other Arab and Muslim-majority States is a major diplomatic objective, with the U.S.’s recent attempts to include more Nations having faced significant hurdles. Mr. Trump has discussed with countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (which is already a member), Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain (also already a member) to join.
Other Arab countries can potentially sign the agreement, although they may deepen their own defence cooperation after the recent Israeli strikes, rather than relying on external partners
Published – May 26, 2026 09:26 am IST
