Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act

This bill aims to deepen U.S. teamwork with countries in the Eastern Mediterranean to support a new trade and transport corridor linking India, the Middle East, and Europe. It focuses on energy security and defense cooperation, and recognizes the region as a key “gateway” connecting three continents. The bill points to power lines, gas links, and LNG terminals in the area as important for Europe’s energy security and for connecting markets across the corridor.

It encourages strong U.S. leadership in regional diplomacy. This includes working through existing groups and forums, supporting energy and transportation projects, and resuming high-level meetings with partners in the region. It also aligns with efforts related to broader regional agreements that encourage normalization and cooperation.

Key points

• Who is affected: U.S. agencies (mainly State and Energy, with support from Homeland Security) and partner countries in the Eastern Mediterranean and along the India–Middle East–Europe corridor.
• What changes: The Secretary of State may set up regular multilateral talks with these countries and must prioritize the region in U.S. foreign policy, especially on energy and defense. The bill requires reports on progress, briefings on multilateral efforts, and an analysis of a security center in Cyprus as a possible model. It also studies creating or expanding joint research and innovation programs like those the U.S. already has with Israel (in areas such as agriculture, industry, science, and technology) to include other countries in the region.
• When: Most reports and reviews are due within one year of the bill becoming law, with an annual progress report after that.