[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4443 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 509
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4443
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean
region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2026
Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. McCormick, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Cramer, Mr.
Banks, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Husted, Mr. Kim, Ms. Collins, and Mrs.
Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
July 27, 2026
Reported by Mr. Risch, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean
region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Eastern Mediterranean
Gateway Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. PURPOSE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> The purpose of this Act is to support the role of Eastern
Mediterranean countries as a strategic gateway in the India-Middle
East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 3. FINDINGS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> Congress finds the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
(IMEC), launched at the G20 Summit in 2023 with G7 backing,
enhances connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe
while serving as a strategic alternative to China's Belt and
Road Initiative.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) The Eastern Mediterranean region is of
strategic importance to the United States and its allies, as
demonstrated by the United States founding role in the 3+1
framework with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) Energy projects such as the Great Sea
Interconnector, the Gregy Interconnection Project, the Greece-
Bulgaria Interconnector, and the LNG terminals in the Eastern
Mediterranean play a key role in European energy security and
provide critical infrastructure that can serve as the backbone
for linking India, the Gulf, and Europe through the Eastern
Mediterranean.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and Israel are key
United States partners in promoting stability, security, and
economic development in the region.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) Enhanced defense and security cooperation, as
well as educational and cultural exchanges, are essential for
strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) According to Presidential Determination 2025-
03, ``the furnishing of defense articles and defense services
to the Republic of Cyprus will strengthen the security of the
United States and promote world peace''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (7) The statement of policy in the Israel
Relations Normalization Act of 2022 (22 U.S.C. 8601 note),
notably that it is the policy of the United States ``to expand
and strengthen the Abraham Accords to encourage other nations
to normalize relations with Israel'', should guide the
Secretary of State and other United States actors in their work
to promote integration between India, the Middle East and
southeast Europe.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (8) India has strengthened strategic ties with
Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, fostering economic, maritime, and
security cooperation that aligns with United States regional
priorities.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (9) The success of the India-Middle East-Europe
Economic Corridor depends on infrastructure, security, and
innovation partnerships rooted in the Eastern Mediterranean
region, which serves as the primary connective hub linking the
Gulf and Indian subcontinent to Europe.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> It is the sense of Congress that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) the significance of diplomatic initiatives
such as the Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US ``3+1'' format, the East
Mediterranean Gas Forum and the Abraham Accords should be
recognized and the United States should maintain its leadership
role in these diplomatic initiatives;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) the United States should continue to actively
participate in the initiatives of the East Mediterranean Gas
Forum;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) the Eastern Mediterranean region is a key
gateway that can link three continents and the United States
should support energy and transportation infrastructure,
connectivity initiatives, defense cooperation, and other forms
of integration in and around the region;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (4) the United States recognizes the unique role
of Eastern Mediterranean countries as both a distinct subregion
and a central connector within the broader IMEC
corridor;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (5) the ``3+1'' diplomatic initiative should
resume with a meeting of the Secretary of State with the
Ministers of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (6) the statement of policy in section 203 of the
Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of
2019 (22 U.S.C. 2373 note) should guide the Secretary of State
in promoting connectivity between India, the Middle East and
Europe, including participation in the trilateral dialogue on
energy, maritime security, cybersecurity and protection of
critical infrastructure conducted among Israel, Greece, and
Cyprus.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 5. DIPLOMACY IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Strategic Dialogues.--The Secretary of State may
institutionalize multilateral strategic dialogues between the United
States and IMEC countries, including dedicated formats with Eastern
Mediterranean countries, with which the United States has a bilateral
strategic dialogue.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Prioritization of the Eastern Mediterranean.--The
Secretary of State shall prioritize the Eastern Mediterranean region in
United States foreign policy, focusing on energy security and defense
cooperation with countries in such region.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 6. REPORTS AND STUDIES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) Report on Implementation.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter,
the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Secretary of State,
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report
describing the implementation and effect of this Act, including an
update on energy projects and defense cooperation that are being
carried out pursuant to the authorities of this Act and the amendments
made by this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Report on Multilateral Initiatives.--Not later than
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
State shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a
briefing on each multilateral initiative between the United States and
IMEC countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (c) Analysis of Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and
Port Security.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary
of Homeland Security, shall analyze insights gained from the operation
of the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Security as a
potential model for broad-based multilateral cooperation.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (d) Study of Program Creation and Expansion.--Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall
submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing
the cost of, steps to, and feasibility of--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) creating bilateral programs with Eastern
Mediterranean countries modeled on bilateral programs between
the United States and Israel, including--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Binational Agriculture Research
and Development Fund;</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the United States-Israel Binational
Industrial Research and Development Foundation
(including projects relating to homeland security and
cybersecurity);</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) the United States-Israel Binational
Science Foundation; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) the United States-Israel Science and
Technology Foundation; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) expanding bilateral programs between the
United States and Israel, including the programs listed in
paragraph (1), to include other Eastern Mediterranean countries
and IMEC countries.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> In this Act:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (2) Eastern mediterranean country.--The term
``Eastern Mediterranean country'' means any of the following
countries:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) The Arab Republic of Egypt.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) The Hellenic Republic.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) The Republic of Cyprus.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) The State of Israel.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (3) IMEC country.--The term ``IMEC country'' means
any of the following countries:</DELETED>
<DELETED> (A) The European Union.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (B) The Federal Republic of
Germany.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (C) The French Republic.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (D) The Italian Republic.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (E) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (F) The Republic of India.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (G) The United Arab Emirates.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (H) The United States.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (I) Any other country that the Secretary
of State designates as an IMEC country for purposes of
this Act.</DELETED>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to support the role of Eastern
Mediterranean countries as a strategic gateway in the India-Middle
East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC),
launched at the G20 Summit in 2023 with G7 backing, enhances
connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe while
serving as a strategic alternative to Chinese infrastructure
investments.
(2) The Eastern Mediterranean region is of strategic
importance to the United States and its allies, as demonstrated
by the United States founding role in the 3+1 framework with
Greece, Israel, and Cyprus.
(3) Energy projects such as the Great Sea Interconnector,
the Gregy Interconnection Project, the Greece-Bulgaria
Interconnector, and the LNG terminals in the Eastern
Mediterranean play a key role in European energy security and
provide critical infrastructure that can serve as the backbone
for linking India, the Gulf, and Europe through the Eastern
Mediterranean and improve opportunities for United States
energy security.
(4) Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, and Israel are key United States
partners in promoting stability, security, and economic
development in the region.
(5) Enhanced defense and security cooperation, as well as
educational and cultural exchanges, strengthen bilateral and
multilateral ties.
(6) According to Presidential Determination 2025-03, ``the
furnishing of defense articles and defense services to the
Republic of Cyprus will strengthen the security of the United
States and promote world peace''.
(7) The statement of policy in the Israel Relations
Normalization Act of 2022 (22 U.S.C. 8601 note), notably that
it is the policy of the United States ``to expand and
strengthen the Abraham Accords to encourage other nations to
normalize relations with Israel'', should guide the Secretary
of State and other United States actors in their work to
promote integration between India, the Middle East and
southeast Europe.
(8) India has strengthened strategic ties with Greece,
Israel, and Cyprus, fostering economic, maritime, and security
cooperation that aligns with United States regional priorities.
(9) The success of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic
Corridor depends on infrastructure, security, and innovation
partnerships rooted in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which
serves as the primary connective hub linking the Gulf and
Indian subcontinent to Europe.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the significance of diplomatic initiatives such as the
Greece-Cyprus-Israel-US ``3+1'' format, the East Mediterranean
Gas Forum and the Abraham Accords should be recognized and the
United States should maintain its leadership role in these
diplomatic initiatives;
(2) the United States should continue to actively
participate in the initiatives of the East Mediterranean Gas
Forum;
(3) the Eastern Mediterranean region is a key gateway that
can link three continents and the United States should support
energy and transportation infrastructure, connectivity
initiatives, defense cooperation, and other forms of
integration in and around the region;
(4) the United States recognizes the unique role of Eastern
Mediterranean countries as both a distinct subregion and a
central connector within the broader IMEC corridor;
(5) the ``3+1'' diplomatic initiative should resume with a
meeting of the Secretary of State with the Foreign Ministers of
Israel, Greece, and Cyprus; and
(6) the statement of policy in section 203 of the Eastern
Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (22
U.S.C. 2373 note) should guide the Secretary of State in
promoting connectivity between India, the Middle East and
Europe, including participation in the trilateral dialogue on
energy, maritime security, cybersecurity and protection of
critical infrastructure conducted among Israel, Greece, and
Cyprus.
SEC. 5. DIPLOMACY IN EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION.
(a) Strategic Dialogues.--The Secretary of State may
institutionalize multilateral strategic dialogues between the United
States and IMEC countries, including dedicated formats with Eastern
Mediterranean countries, with which the United States has a bilateral
strategic dialogue.
(b) Prioritization of the Eastern Mediterranean.--The Secretary of
State shall prioritize the Eastern Mediterranean region in United
States foreign policy, focusing on energy security and defense
cooperation with countries in such region.
SEC. 6. REPORTS AND STUDIES.
(a) Report on Implementation.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for 5 years
and every 2 years thereafter for 10 years, the Secretary of
State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees
a report describing the implementation and effect of this Act,
including an update on energy projects and defense cooperation
that are being carried out pursuant to the authorities of this
Act and the amendments made by this Act.
(2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
include an assessment detailing how IMEC is helping to boost
connections and trade between relevant United States partners
with the aim of countering the influence of the People's
Republic of China.
(b) Report on Multilateral Initiatives.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State
shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on
each multilateral initiative between the United States and IMEC
countries.
(c) Analysis of Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port
Security.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of State shall analyze insights gained from the
operation of the Cyprus Centre for Land, Open Seas, and Port Security
as a potential model for broad-based multilateral cooperation.
(d) Study of Program Creation and Expansion.--Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
State, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to
the appropriate congressional committees a report describing the cost
of, steps to, and feasibility of--
(1) creating bilateral programs with Eastern Mediterranean
countries modeled on bilateral programs between the United
States and Israel, including--
(A) the Binational Agriculture Research and
Development Fund;
(B) the United States-Israel Binational Industrial
Research and Development Foundation (including projects
relating to homeland security and cybersecurity);
(C) the United States-Israel Binational Science
Foundation; and
(D) the United States-Israel Science and Technology
Foundation; and
(2) expanding bilateral programs between the United States
and Israel, including the programs listed in paragraph (1), to
include other Eastern Mediterranean countries and IMEC
countries.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House
of Representatives.
(2) Eastern mediterranean country.--The term ``Eastern
Mediterranean country'' refers to the following countries:
(A) The Arab Republic of Egypt.
(B) The Hellenic Republic.
(C) The Republic of Cyprus.
(D) The State of Israel.
(3) IMEC country.--The term ``IMEC country'' means any of
the following countries:
(A) The European Union.
(B) The Federal Republic of Germany.
(C) The French Republic.
(D) The Italian Republic.
(E) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
(F) The Republic of India.
(G) The United Arab Emirates.
(H) The United States.
(I) Any other country that the Secretary of State
designates as an IMEC country for purposes of this Act.
Calendar No. 509
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4443
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To increase cooperation with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean
region in order to strengthen energy security and defense capabilities,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 27, 2026
Reported with an amendment