WASHINGTON, The U.S. Senate has introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening the Eastern Mediterranean region’s role as a strategic link between the United States, India, the Middle East and Europe.
The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Dave McCormick, seeks to mobilize U.S. support for ports, digital corridors, and other strategic infrastructure designed to diversify and secure energy flows, strengthen regional supply chains, and deepen diplomatic relations with key partners.
“As global energy security and supply chains face increasing pressure, the Eastern Mediterranean is emerging as a key region for enhanced stability and cooperation on a range of shared strategic interests, including support for the U.S.-India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor,” Booker said in a statement.
“I am proud to introduce this important bipartisan legislation to strengthen energy security, accelerate innovation and economic growth, and deepen regional partnerships,” he said.
The bill will also expand cooperation in the fields of innovation, science and emerging technologies, strengthening and modernizing existing regional frameworks.
By supporting the Eastern Mediterranean as a critical connectivity hub between Europe, the Middle East, and India, this legislation advances core U.S. interests: enhancing energy security, strengthening economic integration, and promoting long-term regional stability.
“The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act strengthens these partnerships, makes the region a greater priority for the United States, and helps ensure the security of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor so vital trade and energy routes are not vulnerable to attack by Iran, China or other adversaries,” McCormick said.
The bill aims to strengthen U.S. support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, recognizing the region’s role as a strategic gateway and strengthening existing regional initiatives, including the 3.1 framework with Greece, Israel and Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum.
The legislation also seeks to elevate the Eastern Mediterranean as a strategic priority for U.S. foreign policy; establish regular high-level strategic dialogue with IMEC partners and regional allies to advance cross-border energy and infrastructure projects.
It also seeks to evaluate opportunities to expand successful U.S.-Israel innovation and technology programs to other regional partners and evaluate multilateral models such as the CYCLOPS Regional Integration Center in Cyprus.
The India-Central and Eastern Europe Economic Corridor was announced at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi in 2023.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
