In his first term, President Trump accomplished what once seemed impossible by forging new agreements with Israel and neighboring Arab states. Key to the success of the Abraham Accords was that they formed significant political, economic, security, and cultural ties between Israel and Arab states without being constrained by the political impasse of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Now that Israel has dismantled and degraded Hamas, and the president is visiting the Gulf this week, the Trump administration is in an optimal position to expand the Abraham Accords. To that end, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, predicted that on the expansion of the Abraham Accords, “we [the administration] think will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly.” (RELATED: Trump and the Gaza Ceasefire: Implications for the Future of the Abraham Accords) First, the administration should push Saudi Arabia to join the Accords. Riyadh has participated in quiet engagement with Israel, including in Intelligence cooperation, business discussions, and overflight permissions for years. Saudi Arabia’s concern over Iran’s influence, the Kingdom’s growing economic diversification under Vision 2030, and its deepening ties with the U.S. and Israel are pushing it closer to the brink of a formal deal. (RELATED: The Abraham Accords Are the Way Toward Peace) Formal normalization would be a seismic shift — not just diplomatically, but symbolically. As the guardian of Islam’s holiest sites, Saudi Arabia’s inclusion would give political and religious cover to other reluctant Muslim-majority countries to join the Accords. In fact, its key role in brokering the UAE–Israel and Bahrain–Israel normalization agreements makes it an optimal candidate for such a role. If Saudi Arabia signs on, the Abraham Accords would serve as the foundation of a new Middle East order, as such a deal would project significant power against Iran and its proxies, and the Muslim Brotherhood. (RELATED: Jordan Takes a Bold Step. Trump Should Follow Up.) And Saudi Arabia could pressure the UAE and Bahrain to strengthen their relationships with Israel, and even get other Gulf States like Oman to join as well. Greater Gulf participation in the Abraham Accords could yield a more amazing victory — normalization between Israel and Pakistan. Pakistan’s participation is within the realm of possibility. Pakistan and Israel’s foreign ministers held talks back in 2005, and Pakistan has shared intelligence with Israel on occasions. The Gulf states are one of Pakistan’s closest economic partners, and Saudi Arabia influences Pakistan not just politically but religiously as well. So, as the Gulf strengthens its ties with Israel, Pakistan could follow. The challenge, of course, is domestic politics in Pakistan, but the Gulf countries could influence Pakistan to change course, and in turn improve relations with the West generally. Such an agreement could also weaken China and Russia’s influence in the region. Pakistan, in turn, would stand to gain enormously from Israeli technology in water management, agriculture, and cybersecurity. More importantly, Pakistan as a nuclear Muslim nation would find stronger allies in countering extremism and jihadi ideology. An expansion of the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan would be a victory in defeating fundamentalism in the Middle East and South Asia. It is time for the Trump administration to reinvigorate the diplomatic breakthroughs on the Abraham Accords. Wajid Ali Syed is a multimedia journalist who has focused on U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East and South Asia for over 20 years. Wajid has also worked for international media organizations, including the BBC and Voice of America. He’s an award-winning independent filmmaker, and recently finished a short documentary on Christian persecution in Pakistan titled: Faith Under Fire. READ MORE: The Abraham Accords Are the Way Toward Peace Jordan Takes a Bold Step. Trump Should Follow Up. Another Plan for the Future of Gaza The Art of a Second Iran Deal The post Trump Should Expand the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.