US senators introduce legislation to reshape East Med strategy

Senators Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Marco Rubio have announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to reshape US strategy in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 would allow the US to fully support the trilateral partnership of Israel, Greece, and Cyprus through energy and defense cooperation initiatives - including by lifting the embargo on arms transfers to the Republic of Cyprus.
The legislation also seeks to update US strategy in recognition of consequential changes in the Eastern Mediterranean, including the recent discovery of large natural gas fields, and a deterioration of Turkey's relationship with the United States.
"The United States has significant national security interests in the Eastern Mediterranean, bolstered by strong and expanding...