From August 17 to 22, 2025, the N7 Initiative led a bicameral and bipartisan congressional staff delegation to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel to advance Middle East regional stability and integration. The trip served as a capstone for the inaugural N7 Initiative Congressional Staff Fellowship, which brought together 17 senior congressional staff members for exclusive and off-the-record roundtables with top experts and officials working to advance the Abraham Accords and other regional integration efforts.
Bipartisan Support for Regional Integration Amid Crisis
The delegation engaged with senior government officials, policymakers, and regional experts to underscore the enduring importance of the Abraham Accords and the need to build on initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA). Discussions highlighted opportunities to reinforce regional security, strengthen economic connectivity, and expand cooperation.
Delegates also emphasized the importance of seizing current opportunities for peace between Israel and its closest neighbors, including Syria and Lebanon, while Iran and its proxies remain on the defensive. Building on the recent peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, participants encouraged consideration of expanding the Abraham Accords to include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other Central Asian states. They also identified new opportunities for connectivity through partnerships between Israeli start-ups and Gulf counterparts.
Despite the ongoing war in Gaza, regional interlocutors reaffirmed their commitment to the Abraham Accords and to the long-term vision of Israel’s full integration into the region. However, they stressed that economic cooperation and people-to-people ties are more likely to advance once the conflict and its aftermath are resolved.
Arab interlocutors in Manama and Abu Dhabi reiterated that progress toward a two-state solution remains essential for the Abraham Accords to reach their full potential and for regional economic and societal ties to resume their pre–October 7 trajectory.
In Israel, the delegation experienced the human aspect of the Gaza war with a guided tour of the Gaza Envelope and meetings with hostage families on the anniversary of their family members’ cruel demise. The firsthand accounts from survivors and families affected by the October 7 attacks underscored the war’s deep impact on Israeli society.
The N7 Initiative will continue working with US and regional stakeholders to build on the momentum of this delegation and help translate shared aspirations into durable progress.
For more information about the N7 Initiative Congressional Staff Fellowship, please contact Emily Milliken at emilliken@atlanticcouncil.org.
