In a major legislative milestone, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has officially approved the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act. The committee’s endorsement advances the bill further through the legislative process, bringing it closer to a full vote in both chambers of Congress before it can be sent to the President to be signed into law.
Insiders in Washington view this bipartisan legislation as one of the most consequential congressional efforts in recent years. It aims to cement the Eastern Mediterranean as a vital strategic hub within the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) while deepening US cooperation with regional allies on defense, connectivity, critical infrastructure, and energy security.
It is a strong vote of confidence in the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean within the new energy security architecture being built by Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United States, Greek Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou stated in a social media post.
“It is another step forward,” he added, “following our highly substantive meetings last Thursday in Houston during the 3+1 Energy Ministerial Dialogue, as well as the establishment of the East Med Energy Center (EMEC)—a new institution that aspires to translate our energy cooperation into tangible projects, investments, and innovation. The Eastern Mediterranean is evolving into an area of stability, energy security, and prosperity.
“We will continue to work to ensure that the Eastern Mediterranean serves as a bridge for transatlantic cooperation, regional growth, and energy resilience, for the benefit of the peoples of the wider region,” Papastavrou added.
The bill seeks to strengthen US energy and defense partnerships with key nations—specifically Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, and India—and integrate their critical infrastructure into the broader IMEC framework.
To bolster Europe’s energy security and ensure IMEC’s long-term success, the legislation highlights several high-priority energy projects, including:
Furthermore, the bill urges the Secretary of State to prioritize the Eastern Mediterranean in US foreign policy by actively supporting regional frameworks, notably the East Mediterranean Gas Forum and the 3+1 format (Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the US).
The legislation includes a “Sense of Congress” section that underscores a strong bipartisan consensus: the Eastern Mediterranean serves as a critical strategic bridge connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, making sustained US leadership essential.
Under these provisions, the bill asserts that the United States should:
To ensure accountability, the bill mandates detailed annual reporting and strategy briefs within one year of its enactment:
The legislation has enjoyed powerful, bipartisan momentum from its inception. It was originally introduced in the House of Representatives last year by Representatives Brad Schneider (D) and Gus Bilirakis (R). This year, a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D) and David McCormick (R), securing immediate cross-aisle support.
If passed and signed into law, the Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act will mark the third major legislative triumph for the Greek-American lobby in recent years. It follows the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 and the US-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021—both of which fundamentally upgraded the institutional framework of US strategic alignment with Greece, Cyprus, and the wider region.
