Abraham Accords members reconvene in Manhattan, Kazakhstan signals interest in joining
U.S. State Department officials hosted the first official meeting of the Abraham Accords countries since the Oct. 7 attacks, with Kazakhstan representatives attending for the first time.
State Department officials convened a multilateral session in Manhattan, marking the first official assembly of the Abraham Accords parties since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks halted the initiative’s expansion. The United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco met under the leadership of Under Secretary of Political Affairs Allison Hooker, who said the accords were moving forward again. The event was hosted by the N7 Foundation, whose founder Jeffrey Talpins stressed the goal of deepening current relationships and exploring practical collaboration.
Kazakhstan officials, invited for the first time, reiterated their interest in joining the accords, citing potential projects in technology and transport. Additional senior U.S. officials, including members of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s team and White House Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, were reported to be prioritizing the effort. The meeting also featured Aryeh Lightstone, a special adviser to President Donald Trump’s peace coalition. Participants discussed steps toward formalizing broader cooperation among the member states.
Why it matters
The meeting signals renewed momentum for regional cooperation and potential expansion of the Abraham Accords to new partners.
How this story developed
- Aug 28 Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey launch Mecca Defence Alliance, secretariat set in Riyadh
- Sep 6 Turkey reiterated its long‑standing claims over continental shelves.
- Sep 12 Chinese President Xi Jinping called on BRICS nations at the New Delhi summit to support peace initiatives in the Middle East, saying the war harms the international community.
- Sep 13 Pakistan reiterated that no immediate military response under the Makkah pact is being discussed.
- Sep 13 Leaders adopted a 140‑point New Delhi Declaration covering security, trade, climate and technology issues.
- Sep 13 The Greek prime minister publicly called for dialogue with Turkey while maintaining a formal protest over Turkey’s maritime park claims.
- Sep 13 Day 2 of the summit focused on PM Modi’s four‑pillar BRICS agenda, early‑warning and disaster systems, AI, digital agriculture, supply chains and startups.
- Sep 13 President Xi outlined proposals for a BRICS AI Open Source Zone and a China‑hosted service‑trade forum.
- Sep 16 Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a drone aimed at Mecca and accused Iran-backed Houthi rebels of the plot, which the rebels denied.
- Sep 16 Houthis seized coastal towns and islands at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
- Sep 19 India unveiled a BRICS Logistics Supply Chain Cooperation Framework during the summit.
- Sep 19 The Saudi Directorate of Civil Defence said the danger has passed in Riyadh and al‑Kharj and urged residents to continue following its instructions and avoid gathering or filming.
- Sep 19 The Houthis announced new missile and drone strikes on Riyadh and Yanbu.
- Sep 25 Foreign minister Hakan Fidan announced willingness to meet the kingdom’s technical military needs.
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