The American Chambers of Commerce of Israel, Greece and Cyprus recently issued a joint statement following US President Donald Trump’s signing of the EastMed Act.
The organizations of the three Mediterranean states, which have created a strong strategic partnership in the region, emphasized the importance of the Act’s addressing of security issues in the Eastern Mediterranean in their joint message.
”On the 20th of December, President Trump signed the EastMed Act to primarily promote security and energy partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean. This Act, otherwise cited as the ‘Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019,’ exhibits the historic metamorphosis in United States foreign policy in the Eastern Mediterranean, reflecting to a great extent the strategic view and principle that the security of partners and allies in the Eastern Mediterranean region is critical to the security of the United States and Europe,” the joint statement begins.
”Through the Act, the United States commits to continue robust official strategic engagement with Israel, Greece and Cyprus and to actively participate in the trilateral dialogue on energy, maritime security, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure conducted among the three countries,” the statement continues.
“The United States further commits to continue to support diplomatic efforts with partners and allies to deepen energy security cooperation among Greece, Cyprus and Israel and to encourage the private sector to make investments in energy infrastructure in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” it adds.
The statement goes on to say that ”the Act also details plans to enter into cooperative agreements supporting and enhancing dialogue and to establish international partnerships between the United States and Israel, Greece, and Cyprus.”
According to the press release, “A joint United States-Eastern Mediterranean Energy Center in the United States may be established to leverage the experience, knowledge, and expertise of institutions of higher education and the private sector in offshore energy development to facilitate cooperation among the four countries.”
“The Act enhances the United States’ engagement in the Eastern Mediterranean and reaffirms its commitment to strengthening and expanding its strategic energy and security cooperation with its key allies and partners in a region. At the same time, the law creates another important viable energy option through the overall support provided on the construction of EastMed gas pipeline,” the Chamber statement said.
Earlier in December, President Trump had signed a bill which— among many other provisions — enacted the lifting of the longtime US arms embargo on Cyprus.
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