Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan: Bridging Central Asia and the Middle East Through the Abraham Accords - Faith & Freedom News

As diplomacy evolves in the Middle East and Central Asia, new opportunities emerge for regional cooperation through the Abraham Accords

May 13, 2025

Beyond Saudi Arabia: New Candidates Emerge for Abraham Accords

While political commentators continue to focus on when Saudi Arabia might normalize relations with Israel, two other promising candidates have emerged as potential partners to the Abraham Accords: Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Unlike previous signatories to the Accords, both nations already maintain diplomatic relations and substantial cooperation with Israel, creating a unique foundation upon which expanded partnerships can be built.

Joining the Abraham Accords would deliver tangible benefits for all parties involved. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan would gain access to a growing international network focused on promoting investments that enhance regional prosperity and tolerance. Simultaneously, Israel and the United States would strengthen their influence in the Turkic and broader Muslim world, creating new opportunities for diplomatic, economic, and security collaboration.

Evolution of the Abraham Accords

What began as agreements focused specifically on Israeli-Arab normalization has evolved into something more significant. The Abraham Accords now represent a high-profile international forum capable of incorporating diverse Muslim-majority countries committed to shared values of tolerance, peace, and economic prosperity.

For Azerbaijan, participation in the Accords could provide enhanced security cooperation against regional threats, particularly from Iran. If pursued in coordination with Kazakhstan, this move could also advance Azerbaijan’s strategic goal of becoming a bridge between Europe and Central Asia.

Kazakhstan stands to benefit by reducing its economic dependence on Russia and China—a strategic priority as such dependencies have increasingly become liabilities in the current geopolitical climate.

Strong Foundations Already in Place

Both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have established robust diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, serving as the two primary suppliers of oil to Israel.

Kazakhstan enjoys particularly strong ties with Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. The country already benefits from Israeli expertise in advanced agriculture, medical technology, water management, and security systems. The Abraham Accords present an opportunity to deepen these relationships further and expand beyond the primarily bilateral nature of current Israeli-Kazakhstani relations.

Azerbaijan has taken concrete steps toward expanding the Abraham Accords framework. Earlier this year, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s senior advisor, Hikmet Hajiev, engaged in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Baku’s potential accession to the Accords, according to diplomatic sources familiar with these conversations.

Following these high-level discussions, Mukhtar Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Israel, met with the Knesset co-chairs of the Abraham Accords Caucus. During a subsequent Knesset session, Israeli parliamentarians advocated for Azerbaijan’s inclusion in the Accords while supporting efforts to strengthen Azerbaijan-United States relations.

Geopolitical Significance

Azerbaijan’s potential inclusion carries particular significance. Located in the Caucasus Mountains, Azerbaijan is among the few Shia-majority countries globally. The original 2020 Abraham Accords included the Sunni-majority nations of the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan, and Kosovo. Should Azerbaijan join, it would become only the second Shia-majority country in the Accords after Bahrain, potentially opening doors for broader religious inclusion in the regional peace framework.

Strategic Benefits of Accession

Joining the Abraham Accords would provide several strategic advantages for both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan while simultaneously enhancing Israel’s and the United States’ engagement with the Turkic world.

Central Asia represents one of the world’s most challenging geopolitical neighborhoods, situated between Russia, China, and Iran. To navigate this complex environment, Central Asian nations must employ “multi-vectoralism”—a diplomatic strategy involving balanced relations with surrounding powers without becoming overly dependent on any single actor.

Cooperation with a global power like the United States represents a valuable component of such a strategy, and the Abraham Accords provide a potential pathway toward enhanced U.S. partnership. Central Asian nations have already demonstrated their commitment to regional cooperation through the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), which focuses on energy, defense, and other critical sectors.

Economic Opportunities Through Regional Integration

The Abraham Accords have demonstrated significant economic benefits for existing signatories. Trade between Israel and the UAE increased by over 400% in the two years following normalization, creating new markets and investment opportunities for both nations.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan could leverage similar economic advantages through formal participation in the Accords. Their strategic locations along critical East-West trade routes position them ideally to benefit from increased regional economic integration and investment.

Looking Forward

As the Abraham Accords continue to evolve from their original focus on Arab-Israeli normalization into a broader framework for regional cooperation, the potential inclusion of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan represents an important next step in this diplomatic journey.

Their participation would demonstrate that the Abraham Accords transcend traditional regional and sectarian boundaries, potentially creating a model for future diplomatic initiatives across the wider Middle East and Central Asia.