Trump's Abraham Accords expansion push receives cool regional response (warontherocks.com)

• Trump linked Abraham Accords expansion to an Iran war settlement in May 2026 calls.
• Regional leaders responded with silence; the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative already outlined normalization terms.
• Israeli government expansion in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria complicates normalization.
• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan reiterated that Palestinian statehood is a prerequisite.
• Analyst warns U.S. pressure may drive Gulf states toward independent security frameworks.

"In late May 2026, President Trump pressed regional leaders to expand the Abraham Accords, linking normalization to an Iran war settlement. The response was muted. The article notes the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative already offered normalization for Israeli withdrawals, which Israel rejected. Current Israeli government actions—control of 70% of Gaza, de facto annexation of the West Bank, operations in Lebanon and Syria—make normalization politically difficult. Saudi Arabia insists on a Palestinian state. Trump also asked Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan to join; Pakistan reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution. The author warns Trump's approach may push Gulf states toward a more independent security architecture, reducing U.S. influence."