Ernst Equips Abraham Accords Nations With Access to Cutting Edge Technology

WASHINGTON – Four years since the signing of the Abraham Accords, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, is building upon the historic agreements by introducing the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence Allied Collaboration for Crucial Operations, Research, and Development Act (AI ACCORD) Act of 2024 alongside Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

This legislation will ensure that Accords nations will be able to utilize the most advanced technology to deter Iranian aggression and maintain regional stability. Specifically, it will require the Pentagon to submit a strategy for improved cooperation between our allies and partners in the Middle East on partner-sharing network capabilities to combat the use of cyber and artificial intelligence tools by Iran and its proxies.

“The Abraham Accords have already allowed us to take historic steps toward establishing an effective defense alliance in the Middle East. This legislation builds upon that foundation to bring us closer to the goal by equipping our partners in the region to combat any threat they face through my AI ACCORD Act as the landscape of the modern battlefield continues to rapidly evolve with new technology,” said Ernst, co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus. “Iran’s greatest fear is a united U.S.-Israeli-Arab coalition working together and sharing information, technology, and strategy to achieve peace and prosperity.”

Click here to view the bill.

Background:

Senator Ernst is one of the founding members and co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus, and has led numerous efforts to deepen security cooperation between the U.S. and our partners and allies in the Middle East.

Senator Ernst serves as the ranking member and Senator Gillibrand serves as the chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities.

She recently introduced her bipartisan LINK Act to connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders between America’s Middle East partners’ armed forces to boost regional security and military readiness. LINK Act strengthens low-tech, people-to-people engagement among Abraham Accords members, complementing the AI ACCORD Act’s push for high-tech defense integration.

Last month, Ernst’s bipartisan STARS Act was included in the National Defense Authorization Act to improve space and satellite security coordination in order to enhance U.S. situational awareness, defend against threats from adversaries, and deepen cooperation with Israel and other allies in the Middle East.

Last year, her bipartisan MARITIME Act that required the Pentagon to work with partners in the Middle East to counter maritime threats posed by Iran and its proxies was signed into law.

Last Congress, her bipartisan DEFEND Act that established an integrated air and missile defense architecture with Israel and other Middle East partners was signed into law.

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