Senators Joni Ernst and Jacky Rosen have introduced the LINK Act, a bipartisan bill that seeks to establish a military subject matter exchange program to enhance cultural ties and strategic cooperation between American troops and allies in the Middle East.
Amidst growing concerns over Iran's aggressive behavior, a bipartisan pair of senators has introduced a bill to deepen cooperation between the United States and its Middle East partners. Senators Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., co-chairs of the Abraham Accords Caucus, have introduced the LINK Act, which aims to establish a "military subject matter exchange program" to foster cultural ties and strategic coordination between American troops and allies in the Middle East.
"In the face of emboldened Iranian aggression, I'm deepening the historic partnerships created through the Abraham Accords four years ago today," said Ernst. "More cooperation among our Middle East partners is what Tehran fears. The LINK Act accomplishes this by coordinating military planning and creating a permanent and effective defense alliance. By working hand-in-hand with our partners, the strength and security of our nations grows."
LINK Act Aims to Deepen US-Middle East Defense Ties Amidst Iranian Aggression
The LINK Act is a continuation of the efforts of Ernst and Rosen to strengthen US-Middle East relations. The pair of senators have had three of their previous Middle East-related bills signed into law. The Gulf States of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain signed a normalization deal with Israel in 2020, brokered by the US, known as the Abraham Accords. As part of the agreements, UAE and Bahrain recognized Israel's sovereignty and established full diplomatic relations. It was the first time Israel had established peace with an Arab country since 1994 with the Israel-Jordan peace treaty. In the months that followed, Sudan and Morocco signed deals to normalize relations with Israel.
The bill comes at a time of sky-high tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Israel and Saudi Arabia had been nearing a deal that included the US and would have normalized relations when Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The US has been bolstering its relations with nations in the Middle East to counter the growing threat of a potential nuclear Iran – even ones with mixed human rights records like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration recently lifted a hold on $320 million in military aid to Egypt that it had frozen in response to human rights concerns, bringing the total amount up to $1.3 billion transferred from Washington to Cairo this year. Egypt is playing a central role in the talks between Hamas and Israel about a cease-fire agreement.
LINK Act Aims to Deepen US-Middle East Defense Ties Amidst Iranian Aggression
The LINK Act is designed to complement these efforts by fostering closer military cooperation between the US and its Middle East partners. The bill would establish a military subject matter exchange program, which would allow American troops to train with and learn from their counterparts in the Middle East, and vice versa. The program would also promote cultural exchange and cooperation between the participants.
The LINK Act has received support from both sides of the aisle. Senator Jim Risch, R-Idaho, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised the bill as "a smart and timely move" that would "deepen the ties between our military and the militaries of our Middle East partners." Senator Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also expressed support for the bill, saying that it would "help to build bridges between our countries and strengthen our shared security interests."
LINK Act Aims to Deepen US-Middle East Defense Ties Amidst Iranian Aggression
The LINK Act is expected to be voted on by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the coming weeks. If passed by the committee, the bill would then move to the full Senate for a vote.
