Overview
- President Donald Trump announced the move following a trilateral call with Benjamin Netanyahu and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during a White House summit of Central Asian leaders.
- Kazakhstan’s government confirmed the decision, calling accession a natural continuation of its foreign policy focused on dialogue and stability.
- It is the first country to enter the framework since the original 2020 agreements and the first addition of Trump’s second term.
- U.S. officials describe the step as mostly symbolic because Israel and Kazakhstan have maintained full relations since 1992, though areas like defense, cybersecurity, energy and food technology were cited for potential growth.
- A formal signing ceremony in Washington is expected soon as the administration seeks additional entrants, with attention on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Nov. 18 visit and a new U.S.–Kazakhstan critical minerals deal underscoring broader ties.