U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Monday sponsored legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to design and implement a foreign military officer subject matter expert exchange program.
The bipartisan Learning Integrated National Knowledge (LINK) Act, S. 5059, which is cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), would connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders between America’s Middle East partners’ armed forces to boost regional security and military readiness, according to Sen. Ernst.
“More cooperation among our Middle East partners is what Tehran fears,” said Sen. Ernst, co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus. “The LINK Act accomplishes this by coordinating military planning and creating a permanent and effective defense alliance. By working hand-in-hand with our partners, the strength and security of our nations grows.”
The legislation builds upon Sen. Ernst’s previous work which created a framework for a U.S.-Israeli-Arab partnership to counter maritime threats, established an air and missile defense architecture, and secured space satellites to deter Iranian aggression, her staff says.
“In the face of emboldened Iranian aggression, I’m deepening the partnerships created through the historic Abraham Accords,” said Sen. Ernst.
Sen. Rosen, also co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus, said the Abraham Accords have positively transformed relations between Israel and Arab nations in the Middle East, and the U.S. must continue working across party lines to support and expand these partnerships in the region.
“I’m proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to create a military expert exchange program with Abraham Accords countries to advance security initiatives and enhance our shared national security interests,” she said.
Oren Eisner, president of the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation and N7 Initiative, endorsed the measure, which has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.