Abraham Accords Reshape Middle East Ties Six Years On

Six years after the signing of the Abraham Accords, the agreements have significantly altered regional dynamics, shifting the paradigm for normalization between Israel and Arab nations. Initially, the prevailing approach, exemplified by Egypt and Jordan's peace treaties, linked normalization with Israel to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the Abraham Accords, signed in September 2020 with the UAE and Bahrain, followed by Morocco and Sudan in December, broke this linkage. These nations pursued normalization based on their own economic and strategic interests, a move that drew criticism from the Palestinian side.

While the number of new signatories has been limited, with Kazakhstan joining in November 2025 and Sudan's process stalled by internal conflict, the practical outcomes have been substantial. Bilateral trade between Israel and the UAE has reached nearly $14.5 billion since September 2020, bolstered by a free trade agreement in 2023. Passenger traffic between the two countries surged over 70% in 2025, with up to 136 direct flights weekly. The OECD notes significant expansion in trade ties with the UAE, Morocco, and Bahrain, even amidst the Gaza war.

Regional security has also seen increased cooperation, particularly between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain, focusing on shared concerns regarding Iran and including collaboration in drone technology. While not a full military alliance, these ties are strengthening. Relations with Morocco are further enhanced by historical connections, with liaison offices recently upgraded to full embassies.

Potential future signatories for the Abraham Accords include Kuwait, with Indonesia and Azerbaijan previously considered candidates. Notably, the chiefs of staff from Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt recently held a closed-door meeting in Germany under CENTCOM auspices, with Iran being a primary discussion point, despite Israel lacking diplomatic ties with some attendees. This meeting occurred amidst heightened Israeli military readiness due to ongoing tensions on multiple fronts and Iran remaining a top priority for Israeli intelligence services.