Abraham Accords Nations Reunite in New York, Adding Kazakhstan to Diplomatic Push

Key points

• The first official meeting of Abraham Accords countries since October 7, 2023, took place on September 24, 2026, in New York City.
• Participants included the United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, with Kazakhstan joining for the first time.
• The meeting was hosted by the N7 Foundation, a U.S.-based organization that has convened such multilateral meetings since 2021.
• U.S. Under Secretary of Political Affairs Allison Hooker led the American delegation, stating the accords are 'moving forward again' after a three-year pause.
• Kazakhstan Ambassador Erzhan Kazykhan stated the accords serve as a platform to reinforce political dialogue, expand trade, and promote technological cooperation.
• The gathering occurred ten blocks from the United Nations General Assembly, with U.S. diplomats meeting quietly in a midtown Manhattan office tower.

Background

The Abraham Accords, brokered by President Trump during his first term, began with the UAE and Bahrain formally recognizing Israel in 2020, followed by Morocco. Before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, momentum was building for Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries to join. The attacks and subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran stalled further expansion. In November 2025, President Trump announced Kazakhstan's intention to join the accords during a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, promising a signing ceremony. Recent archive coverage highlights ongoing tensions in the region, including disputes over pre-attack warnings and Israeli military posturing in the West Bank, underscoring the complex backdrop against which this diplomatic restart occurs.

Why it matters

This meeting signals a potential revival of the Abraham Accords as a diplomatic and economic framework in the Middle East and beyond, after a three-year hiatus caused by the October 2023 attacks and subsequent regional conflicts. The inclusion of Kazakhstan, a Central Asian nation, suggests an effort to expand the accords' reach beyond the Middle East, potentially leveraging trade, technology, and connectivity to foster stability. For the U.S., it represents a renewed commitment to multilateral diplomacy in a region marked by ongoing tensions. For participating countries, it offers a platform to reinforce political dialogue and economic cooperation, potentially mitigating the isolation and instability that followed the 2023 attacks. The meeting's timing, near the UN General Assembly, underscores its significance as a diplomatic signal to the international community.

What to watch

Participants will likely pursue formalizing cooperation agreements and identifying specific economic and technological projects to advance the accords' goals. The U.S. State Department and White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff are prioritizing this effort, suggesting further high-level engagements. Kazakhstan may move toward a formal signing ceremony, as hinted by President Trump in November 2025. The success of these discussions could determine whether the accords expand to include additional countries, such as Saudi Arabia, or if they remain a closed group focused on deepening existing ties. Monitoring for announcements on trade deals, technological partnerships, or new member states will indicate the accords' trajectory.