Nickolay Mladenov is the Segal Distinguished Visiting Fellow at The Washington Institute. An accomplished Bulgarian politician and diplomat, he is the director-general of the UAE's Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. He previously served as UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process (2015-2020).
Articles & Testimony
The Gaza ceasefire is a chance to cement Israel’s normalization with the rest of the Arab world, and perhaps reopen a path toward wider peace diplomacy with the Palestinians.
After Hamas’s massacre of October 7 and two years of devastating war in Gaza, a US-brokered ceasefire has finally taken hold. Pushed by President Donald Trump, the truce, accompanied by hostage releases, aid surges, and phased Israeli withdrawals, offers more than a pause in fighting; it marks a potential turning point for the region. Related to its success lies a question first posed in 2020: can the Abraham Accords become not only a diplomatic milestone but also the foundation for durable peace? Once criticized as detached from the Palestinian issue, the accords are now proving unexpectedly relevant to it...