Blinken Acknowledges Trump’s Role in Abraham Accords, Highlights Opportunities with Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken credited former President Donald Trump for his achievements in facilitating the Abraham Accords, a landmark initiative that helped normalize relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Speaking on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Thursday, Blinken called Trump’s efforts “a very good thing” and emphasized the potential to expand the agreements to include Saudi Arabia.
“President Trump did a very good thing the first time around with the Abraham Accords, with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain,” Blinken said, referencing the agreements signed during Trump’s first term. “The opportunity is now there to broaden that out with the Saudis.”
Blinken noted that significant groundwork has been laid under the current administration to advance such efforts. “The work that we’ve done on putting in place the elements of that deal, including what we and Saudi Arabia would do together, what they would do with Israel—all of that is now there,” he said.
Future Prospects for the Accords
Blinken acknowledged that while progress might not be fully realized during President Joe Biden’s tenure, the next administration will inherit a framework to build upon. “My hope is we’ll move as far as we can, but it won’t be complete,” he explained. “We’ll be able to hand it over, and then the next administration can decide how it wants to proceed.”
Blinken highlighted the broader significance of such agreements, stating, “This would be an extraordinary success over multiple administrations to actually change the region and the future for its people.”
Focus on Broader Diplomacy
In addition to discussing the Abraham Accords, Blinken also addressed Trump’s potential role in global diplomacy, particularly regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Blinken expressed hope for a resolution to the conflict, which began in February 2022 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “President Trump will want to get a good deal going forward,” Blinken remarked, hinting at a possible diplomatic strategy under a future Trump administration.
A Bipartisan Commitment
The Abraham Accords have been widely regarded as a significant bipartisan foreign policy success. Initially brokered by the Trump administration in 2020, the agreements normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Under the Biden administration, efforts to expand the accords have continued, with a focus on including Saudi Arabia in future negotiations.
Blinken’s remarks underline the importance of continuity in U.S. foreign policy, highlighting that successes in the Middle East require collaboration across administrations. As discussions around the Abraham Accords evolve, both parties appear poised to contribute to reshaping the region’s future.