Washington: Steve Witkoff, a key Middle East advisor to the U.S. President, has announced that additional nations—previously considered unlikely candidates—are preparing to formally recognize Israel. This follows the historic Abraham Accords brokered during Trump’s first term, which saw the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan establish diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv.
Witkoff emphasized that the Trump administration is actively working to broaden the circle of recognition. “We expect countries that no one even imagined would take this step to soon normalize relations with Israel,” he said. While he did not name specific states, analysts speculate about potential shifts in Indonesia, Oman, or even Saudi Arabia’s stance.
The advisor framed the expected recognitions as a stabilizing force, claiming they would “bring balance to the region.” However, critics argue that without progress on Palestinian rights, such deals risk deepening divisions. The original Abraham Accords faced backlash for sidelining the Palestinian issue in favor of economic and security partnerships.
With the U.S. election looming, the Trump team appears keen to secure foreign policy wins. Rapid normalization agreements could bolster the administration’s narrative of diplomatic success. Yet, whether these anticipated recognitions materialize—and how regional players react—remains uncertain in an already volatile Middle East.
