WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Sudan and Israel have agreed to normalize relations -- a foreign policy achievement for the incumbent president less than two weeks before the US presidential election.
"President @realDonaldTrump has announced that Sudan and Israel have agreed to the normalization of relations — another major step toward building peace in the Middle East with another nation joining the Abraham Accords," White House spokesperson Judd Deere said on Twitter.
His announcement came shortly after the White House said he had informed Congress of his intent to remove Sudan from the state sponsor of terrorism list.
President Donald Trump, Sudanese Chairman of the Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu just spoke to discuss Sudan’s historic progress toward democracy and opportunities to advance peace, the White House said in a statement.
“This historic agreement is a testament to the bold and visionary approach of the four leaders!”
After decades of living under a dictatorship, the people of Sudan are finally taking charge. The Sudanese transitional government has demonstrated its courage and commitment to combating terrorism, building its democratic institutions, and improving relations with its neighbors, the statement read.
In light of this historic progress, and following President Trump’s decision to remove Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, the United States and Israel have agreed to partner with Sudan in its new start, the statement added.
According to the White House statement, the leaders of Sudan and Israel have agreed to normalize relations, end the state of belligerence between their nations, and begin negotiating agreements of cooperation on the economy, trade, and more.
However, it is unclear if the deal establishes full diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Taking to Twitter a little later, Trump said: “HUGE win today for the United States and for peace in the world. Sudan has agreed to a peace and normalization agreement with Israel! With the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, that’s THREE Arab countries to have done so in only a matter of weeks. More will follow!” — Agencies