The Mideast Is Baffled by Trump’s Call to Expand Abraham Accords
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- President Trump proposed linking a U.S.-orchestrated deal to end the war with Iran to an expansion of the Abraham Accords, requiring Middle Eastern and South Asian countries to establish relations with Israel.
- Several countries named by Trump, including Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, already have relations with Israel, while others like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan have shown no interest in establishing such ties.
- The proposal was met with confusion and skepticism in the Middle East, with analysts questioning the logic of connecting peace with Iran to broader recognition of Israel.
- Western diplomats indicated that the idea was not being taken seriously, and the White House did not provide a clear explanation linking the two issues beyond Trump's remarks.