Trump Dilutes Saudi Normalization Timeline to "At Some Point" as Somaliland Row Escalates

WASHINGTON/RIYADH — President Donald Trump pivoted to a vague timeline for Saudi-Israeli normalization today, stating the Kingdom would join the Abraham Accords "at some point." The remark—a departure from his targets for a 2025 deal—arrives as a sharp diplomatic rift over Somaliland casts doubt on the feasibility of an agreement before the close of 2026.

While the administration maintains public optimism, the diplomatic reality has darkened following Israel's recognition of Somaliland on Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the move as being "in the spirit" of the Accords, but the gambit has backfired in Riyadh. Saudi officials have privately indicated the decision has "distanced" the Kingdom from the negotiating table, creating a new, immediate barrier to entry for Arab nations.

This friction significantly raises the risk profile for the 2026 normalization deadline. Just hours prior to Trump’s comments, a Saudi royal source told Israeli media that the Somaliland recognition had "angered" Riyadh. The Saudi Foreign Ministry explicitly rejected the move as a violation of international law, signaling that Israel’s attempt to expand its diplomatic footprint in the Horn of Africa is viewed by Saudi Arabia as a destabilizing provocation rather than a bridge to peace.

The change in presidential rhetoric is the clearest signal yet that the window for a near-term deal has closed. Throughout 2025, Trump prioritized a Saudi agreement, predicting in October that a signing would occur "by the end of the year." Today’s adoption of "at some point" serves as a tacit acknowledgment that the timeline has slipped, likely pushing any serious roadmap deep into 2026 or beyond.

To secure a deal by the market-critical deadline of December 31, 2026, negotiators now face a compounded challenge. They must navigate the Kingdom’s longstanding demand for a credible path to Palestinian statehood while diffusing the new dispute over Red Sea stability. By linking Somaliland recognition to regional insecurity, Riyadh has effectively added a second precondition to the talks, widening the gap between Washington’s ambitions and geopolitical reality.