[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2000 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2000

To promote the United States-Greece defense partnership, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 9, 2021

Mr. Menendez (for himself and Mr. Rubio) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To promote the United States-Greece defense partnership, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``U.S.-Greece Defense and 
Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The United States and Greece are strong allies in the 
        North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and have deepened 
        their defense relationship in recent years in response to 
        growing security challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean 
        region.
            (2) Greece participates in several NATO missions, including 
        Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean and NATO's mission 
        in Kosovo.
            (3) The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy 
        Partnership Act (title II of division J of Public Law 116-94), 
        authorized new security assistance for Greece and Cyprus, 
        lifted the United States prohibition on arms transfers to 
        Cyprus, and authorized the establishment of a United States-
        Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center to facilitate energy 
        cooperation among the United States, Greece, Israel, and 
        Cyprus.
            (4) The United States has demonstrated its support for the 
        trilateral partnership of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus through 
        joint engagement with Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United 
        States in the ``3+1'' format.
            (5) The United States and Greece have held Strategic 
        Dialogue meetings in Athens, Washington DC, and virtually, and 
        have committed to hold an upcoming Strategic Dialogue session 
        in 2021 in Washington, DC.
            (6) In October 2019, the United States and Greece agreed to 
        update the U.S.-Greece Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, 
        and the amended agreement officially entered into force on 
        February 13, 2020.
            (7) The amended Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement 
        provides for increased joint United States-Greece and NATO 
        activities at Greek military bases and facilities in Larissa, 
        Stefanovikeio, Alexandroupolis, and other parts of central and 
        northern Greece, and allows for infrastructure improvements at 
        the United States Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base on 
        Crete.
            (8) In October 2020, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias 
        announced that Greece hopes to further expand the Mutual 
        Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.
            (9) The United States Naval Support Activity Souda Bay 
        serves as a critical naval logistics hub for the United States 
        Navy's 6th Fleet.
            (10) In June 2020, United States Ambassador to Greece 
        Geoffrey Pyatt characterized the importance of Naval Support 
        Activity Souda Bay as ``our most important platform for the 
        projection of American power into a strategically dynamic 
        Eastern Mediterranean region. From Syria to Libya to the 
        chokepoint of the Black Sea, this is a critically important 
        asset for the United States, as our air force, naval, and other 
        resources are applied to support our Alliance obligations and 
        to help bring peace and stability.''.
            (11) During a September 2020 visit to Souda Bay, then-
        Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the USS Hershel 
        ``Woody'' Williams, the second of a new class of United States 
        sea-basing ships, will be based out of Souda Bay, the first 
        permanent United States naval deployment at the base.
            (12) The United States cooperates with the Hellenic Armed 
        Forces at facilities in Larissa, Stefanovikeio, and 
        Alexandroupolis, where the United States Armed Forces conduct 
        training, refueling, temporary maintenance, storage, and 
        emergency response.
            (13) The United States has conducted a longstanding 
        International Military Education and Training program with 
        Greece, and the Government of Greece has committed to provide 
        $3 for every dollar invested by the United States in the 
        program.
            (14) Greece's defense spending in 2020 amounted to an 
        estimated 2.68 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), 
        exceeding NATO's 2 percent of GDP benchmark agreed to at the 
        2014 NATO Summit in Wales.
            (15) In September 2020, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos 
        Mitsotakis announced plans to modernize all three branches of 
        the Hellenic Armed Forces, which will strengthen Greece's 
        military position in the Eastern Mediterranean.
            (16) The modernization includes upgrades to the arms of all 
        three branches, including new anti-tank weapons for the 
        Hellenic Army, new heavy-duty torpedoes for the Hellenic Navy, 
        and new guided missiles for the Hellenic Air Force.
            (17) The Hellenic Navy also plans to upgrade its four MEKO 
        200HN frigates and purchase four new multirole frigates of an 
        undisclosed type, to be accompanied by 4 MH-60R anti-submarine 
        helicopters.
            (18) The Hellenic Air Force plans to upgrade 84 of its 
        fleet of F-16 jets to the F-16 Viper variant by 2027 and has 
        expressed interest in participating in the F-35 Joint Strike 
        Fighter program.
            (19) The United States ejected Turkey from the F-35 Joint 
        Strike Fighter Program in July 2019 as a result of its purchase 
        of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Eight F-35 Joint 
        Strike Fighters were produced for Turkey but never delivered as 
        a result of its ejection from the program.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) Greece is a pillar of stability in the Eastern 
        Mediterranean region and the United States should remain 
        committed to supporting its security and prosperity;
            (2) the 3+1 format of cooperation among Cyprus, Greece, 
        Israel, and the United States has been a successful forum to 
        cooperate on energy issues and should be expanded to include 
        other areas of common concern to the members;
            (3) the United States should increase and deepen efforts to 
        partner with and support the modernization of the Greek 
        military;
            (4) it is in the interests of the United States that Greece 
        continue to transition its military equipment away from 
        Russian-produced platforms and weapons systems through the 
        European Recapitalization Investment Program;
            (5) the United States Government should continue to deepen 
        strong partnerships with the Greek military, especially in co-
        development and co-production opportunities with the Greek 
        Navy;
            (6) the naval partnership with Greece at Souda Bay and 
        Alexandroupolis is mutually beneficial to the national security 
        of the United States and Greece;
            (7) the United States should support the sale of F-35 Joint 
        Strike Fighters to Greece to include those F-35 aircraft 
        produced for but never delivered to Turkey as a result of 
        Turkey's exclusion from the program due to its purchase of the 
        Russian S-400 air defense system;
            (8) the United States Government should continue to invest 
        in International Military Education and Training (IMET) 
        programs in Greece;
            (9) the United States Government should support joint 
        maritime security cooperation exercises with Cyprus, Greece, 
        and Israel;
            (10) in accordance with its legal authorities and project 
        selection criteria, the United States Development Finance 
        Corporation should support private investment in strategic 
        infrastructure projects in Greece, to include shipyards and 
        ports that contribute to the security of the region and 
        Greece's prosperity;
            (11) the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement with Greece 
        should be extended and include deepened partnerships at Greek 
        military facilities throughout the country, and, as appropriate 
        and necessary, the United States should partner with Greece in 
        order to increase rotational deployments and presences of 
        forward-based troops at Greek bases;
            (12) the United States Government should restore 
        congressionally appropriated military construction funds for 
        construction projects at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay 
        focused on a warehouse storage facility and an airport 
        passenger terminal; and
            (13) the United States Government should establish the 
        United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center as authorized 
        in the Eastern Mediterranean Energy and Security Partnership 
        Act of 2019.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR EUROPEAN RECAPITALIZATION 
              INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

    There is authorized to be appropriated for the Department of State 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 for European 
Recapitalization Incentive Program (ERIP) assistance to Greece to 
assist the country in meeting its defense needs and transitioning away 
from Russian-produced military equipment.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON LOAN PROGRAM.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) as appropriate, the United States Government should 
        provide direct loans to Greece for the procurement of defense 
        articles, defense services, and design and construction 
        services pursuant to the authority of section 23 of the Arms 
        Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2763) to support the further 
        development of Greece's military forces; and
            (2) such loans should be considered an additive security 
        partnership tool, and not a substitute for European 
        Recapitalization Incentive Program assistance.

SEC. 6. EXPEDITED EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES TRANSFER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--During fiscal years 2022 through 2026, the 
delivery of excess defense articles to Greece shall be given the same 
priority as that given other countries and regions under section 
516(c)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2321j(c)(2)).
    (b) Report.--During each fiscal year listed in subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, 
shall report not later than October 31 to the appropriate congressional 
committees and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives on Greece's defense needs and how the United 
States will seek to address such needs through transfers of excess 
defense equipment to Greece for that fiscal year.

SEC. 7. DELIVERY OF F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT TO GREECE.

    The President is authorized to expedite delivery of any future F-35 
aircraft once Greece is prepared to move forward with such a purchase 
on such terms and conditions as the President may require. Such 
transfer shall be submitted to Congress pursuant to the certification 
requirements under section 36 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
2776).

SEC. 8. IMET COOPERATION WITH GREECE.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Department of State $1,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026 for International Military Education and 
Training (IMET) assistance for Greece. The assistance shall be made 
available for the following purposes:
            (1) Training of future leaders.
            (2) Fostering a better understanding of the United States.
            (3) Establishing a rapport between the United States Armed 
        Forces and Greece's military to build partnerships for the 
        future.
            (4) Enhancement of interoperability and capabilities for 
        joint operations.
            (5) Focusing on professional military education, civilian 
        control of the military, and protection of human rights.

SEC. 9. CYPRUS, GREECE, ISRAEL, AND THE UNITED STATES 3+1 
              INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a group, to be known as 
the ``Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United States 3+1 
Interparliamentary Group'', to serve as a legislative component to the 
3+1 process launched in Jerusalem in March 2019.
    (b) Membership.--The Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the United States 
3+1 Interparliamentary Group shall include a group of not more than 6 
United States Senators, to be known as the ``United States group'', who 
shall be appointed jointly by the majority leader and the minority 
leader of the Senate.
    (c) Meetings.--Not less frequently than once each year, the United 
States group shall meet with members of the 3+1 group to discuss issues 
on the agenda of the 3+1 deliberations of the Governments of Greece, 
Israel, Cyprus, and the United States to include maritime security, 
defense cooperation, energy initiatives, and countering malign 
influence efforts by the People's Republic of China and the Russian 
Federation.

SEC. 10. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.

    In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' 
means--
            (1) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
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