S. 4443

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4443 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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 and Mr. McCormick) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

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,

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 China's Belt and Road 
Initiative.
(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.
(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, are essential for 
strengthening 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 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.--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.
(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, 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.
(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 Energy and Natural Resources 
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; 
and
(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives.
(2) Eastern mediterranean country.--The term ``Eastern 
Mediterranean country'' means any of 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.
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