Ernst Strengthens Strategic Military Partnership Between Abraham Accords Nations

WASHINGTON – After the fourth anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a combat veteran, and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the bipartisan Learning Integrated National Knowledge (LINK) Act to connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders between our Middle East partners’ armed forces to boost regional security and military readiness.

The legislation builds upon Ernst’s previous work which created a framework for a U.S.-Israeli-Arab partnership to counter maritime threats, established an air and missile defense architecture, and secured space satellites to deter Iranian aggression.

“In the face of emboldened Iranian aggression, I’m deepening the partnerships created through the historic Abraham Accords,” said Ernst, co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus.“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.”

“The Abraham Accords have positively transformed relations between Israel and Arab nations in the Middle East, and we must continue working across party lines here in the U.S. to support and expand these partnerships in the region,” said Rosen, co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus. “I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to create a military expert exchange program with Abraham Accords countries to advance security initiatives and enhance our shared national security interests.”

"Senator Joni Ernst's LINK Act creates the first multilateral officer exchange among the militaries of the Abraham Accords nations. The legislation represents a crucial step forward towards integrating the military capabilities of our regional allies and strengthening and expanding the Abraham Accords. The LINK Act builds on the Senator's DEFEND Act and MARITIME Act, and is a testament to Senator Ernst’s leadership in U.S. foreign policy and her dedication to peace and security in the Middle East," said Oren Eisner, President of the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation and N7 Initiative.

Background:

Senators Ernst and Rosen are two of the founding members and co-chairs of the bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus, and they have led efforts to deepen security cooperation between the U.S. and our partners and allies in the Middle East.

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

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