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The LINK Act is a bipartisan effort spearheaded by Senators Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., that seeks to strengthen the landmark Abraham Accords even more. The measure, which was unveiled on the fourth anniversary of the accords, suggests creating a “military subject matter exchange program” in order to improve the strategic and cultural collaboration between American forces and their allies in the Middle East.
The LINK Act seeks to deepen the partnerships forged by the Abraham Accords, which initially brought normalization agreements between Israel and the Gulf States of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. These agreements marked a significant diplomatic milestone, the first since the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan.
“In the face of emboldened Iranian aggression, I’m committed to deepening the historic partnerships created through the Abraham Accords four years ago today,” Senator Ernst said. “The LINK Act accomplishes this by coordinating military planning and creating a permanent and effective defense alliance.”
The proposed legislation aims to counteract growing regional threats, particularly from Iran, by strengthening military and cultural ties. The U.S. has been actively working to bolster its relationships in the Middle East, including with nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, despite mixed human rights records. Recently, the Biden administration lifted a hold on $320 million in military aid to Egypt, bringing the total aid this year to $1.3 billion, with Egypt playing a key role in negotiating cease-fire agreements between Hamas and Israel.
The LINK Act, which reflects continuous US efforts to promote peace and stability in the region, builds on the achievements of earlier Middle East-related measures introduced by Ernst and Rosen. With ongoing hostilities, like the recent Hamas battle, the new bill aims to fortify US relationships and fend against regional threats by stepping up military cooperation.