Trump Urges Muslim Nations to Normalize Relations with Israel

Trump Pushes Muslim Nations to Make Peace with Israel — And Pakistan Is Caught in the Middle

In a move that has sent shockwaves across the Muslim world, United States President Donald Trump has once again deployed his signature dealmaking pressure this time asking some of the world's most influential Muslim-majority nations to formally recognize Israel as part of a broader peace framework tied to the ongoing Iran war negotiations.

The development has put Pakistan in a particularly uncomfortable spot diplomatically squeezed between its decades-old Palestinian solidarity stance, its dependence on Washington, and its ambitions to project itself as a regional peacemaker.

The Call That Changed the Conversation

Trump is pushing leaders of several Arab and Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel if a deal to end the Iran war is reached. The discussion reportedly took place during a conference call with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. 

Trump's remarks on Israel during the call signal the next big step he wants to take in the Middle East after the war. He is aiming primarily at a historic Saudi-Israeli peace agreement, but his ambitions extend well beyond Riyadh.

Trump insisted on Monday that six Muslim-majority countries join the Abraham Accords normalization agreements with Israel ahead of any deal between the US and Iran, saying negotiations were "proceeding nicely." He escalated the language further, making it clear this was not a polite suggestion Trump urged several Muslim-majority countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey to normalize relations with Israel, telling them they could join what he called an "unparalleled World Coalition" if Iran signs a final agreement with the United States. 

The response from the Muslim leaders on the call was telling. Trump's request left the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan who don't have formal diplomatic relations with Israel surprised, after which Trump told them that his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, would follow up on the matter. "There was silence on the line, and Trump joked and asked if they are still there," Axios quoted a US official as saying. 

What Are the Abraham Accords ?

The Abraham Accords were a signature achievement of Trump's first term. The Accords were first proposed in 2020 to normalize relations between Israel and Arab nations. The UAE and Bahrain were the first signatories, followed by Morocco and Sudan. The framework represented the most significant Arab-Israeli diplomatic breakthrough in decades without resolving the Palestinian question, which critics called a fatal flaw. Now, in his second term, Trump is pushing hard to expand the Accords into a wider "World Coalition," pulling in nations that have historically refused to recognize Israel without a credible path to Palestinian statehood.

Pakistan's Impossible Dilemma

Of all the countries on that call, Pakistan faces perhaps the most acute internal contradiction. Pakistan has found itself in a difficult position, especially as its government is trying to project the nation as a global peacemaker while mediating a deal between the US and Iran. It remains to be seen how PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir will choose to respond to a subject that is sure to provoke Pakistani public sentiment.

Islamabad has always backed a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, which was evident when former PM Imran Khan opted not to join the Abraham Accords during his regime. That position has not changed. An Islamabad-based analyst said Pakistan's position on Israel remains unchanged despite Trump's latest proposal.

The reasons for Pakistan's reluctance go beyond politics they run deep into national identity. Pakistan has never recognized Israel since its own founding in 1947. Israeli passports are not valid for entry into Pakistan. Any normalization would be a seismic shift not just in foreign policy, but in the emotional and religious fabric of the country. The Palestinian cause resonates strongly with Pakistan's population of over 240 million, the vast majority of whom are Muslim.

The Strategic Pressures on Islamabad

Yet refusing Trump outright carries its own risks. Pakistan is navigating a fragile economy, relying on IMF bailouts partly facilitated by US goodwill. Its military establishment has traditionally maintained back-channel relationships with Washington. Being on the wrong side of Trump's vision for the Middle East could cost Pakistan diplomatically and financially.

Trump said he would accept "one or two" countries declining to sign, but said most should be willing. That leaves a narrow window Pakistan may be able to quietly stay out without blowing up relations with Washington, but only if larger players like Saudi Arabia also hold the line.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had earlier hinted that the kingdom is open to normalization with Israel, but Riyadh took a harder stance after the Gaza war broke out in 2023. Saudi Arabia is now seeking the formation of a Palestinian state before normalization can happen. Pakistan's position is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia's and if Riyadh eventually bends to US pressure, the domino effect on Islamabad could be significant.

The Broader Regional Impact

Trump's push represents a reordering of Middle Eastern geopolitics that was unimaginable just a decade ago. The Iran war has reshuffled the regional deck, and Washington is using the ceasefire negotiations as leverage. Trump told the leaders he hoped Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu would join a group call with the Muslim and Arab leaders in the future, and that envoys Kushner and Witkoff would follow up on the issue within weeks. 

For Pakistan, the coming weeks will be a test of diplomatic agility. It must balance its relationship with the United States, its solidarity with the Palestinian cause, its deep ties with Saudi Arabia, and its domestic public opinion all at once. There are no easy moves on this chessboard.

What Comes Next

Pakistan is unlikely to make any sudden moves. Expect quiet diplomacy, careful non-committal language, and intense back-channel conversations with Riyadh before any public statement. The army establishment, which holds real power over foreign policy, will be cautious.

But the pressure is real, and it is not going away. Trump has made it clear that the Abraham Accords expansion is his next great legacy project in the Middle East. For Pakistan, saying no to Trump has a price. But saying yes to Israel without a Palestinian state could have an even greater one at home.

The silence on that Saturday conference call said it all. Islamabad is listening, calculating, and for now, saying nothing.