The "Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act" focuses on the "Great Sea Interconnector," the Greece-Egypt interconnection (GREGY), and LNG stations.
The US Congress has dropped a geopolitical "bombshell" by granting preliminary approval to a bill titled the "Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act." This legislation aims to institutionally establish the Eastern Mediterranean as a strategic entry point to the emerging IMEC corridor by integrating the region into American connectivity and security planning. The bipartisan proposal, introduced by Democratic Representative Brad Schneider and Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis, focuses on deepening US energy and defense cooperation with key countries, including India, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt.
What is the "Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act"
The next critical step in the legislative journey of the bill—which promotes the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)—took place with its successful vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This specific bill, titled the "Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act," seeks to institutionally anchor the Eastern Mediterranean as a strategic gateway for the IMEC corridor by embedding the region within the framework of American infrastructure and security strategy.
The vote held in the Foreign Affairs Committee provides new momentum to the bill, as it clears the path for its introduction to the full House of Representatives. However, given that 2026 is a midterm election year, it is expected that the House will deal almost exclusively with bills related to the general government and Pentagon budgets. Consequently, it is estimated that the bill will eventually be incorporated as an amendment into one of the two primary funding bills associated with the Trump administration.
Focus on "Great Sea Interconnector," Greece-Egypt interconnection (GREGY), and LNG
Specifically, the bipartisan proposal focuses on deepening energy and defense cooperation between the US and key partner nations and connecting their critical infrastructure to the broader IMEC axis. At the heart of the bill are specific energy projects designated as having strategic importance. These include the "Great Sea Interconnector," the Greece-Egypt electrical interconnection (GREGY), the Greece-Bulgaria gas pipeline, and new LNG terminals.
These projects are presented as vital pillars for both European energy security and the functionality of the corridor intended to link India, the Gulf, and the European continent. The text of the law calls on the US Secretary of State to upgrade the Eastern Mediterranean to a consistent priority of American foreign policy, to actively support existing cooperation schemes—with an emphasis on the 3+1 framework (Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the US)—and to strengthen the role of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum.
US supports Greek-Israeli cooperation and the Abraham Accords
Simultaneously, the bill aligns with the spirit of the 2022 Israel Relations Normalization Act and promotes regional convergence by strengthening diplomatic and economic ties, including those established by the Abraham Accords. It also mandates the submission of annual reports to Congress regarding the implementation of the law, the evolution of multilateral initiatives, and the progress of projects in the energy and defense sectors.
Within the same framework, a feasibility study is requested for the creation of bilateral cooperation programs with Eastern Mediterranean countries. These would be based on the model of existing Greek-Israeli schemes in sectors such as agriculture, technology, security, and science, with the possibility of extending them to other countries participating in IMEC.
The CYCLOPS security center and the IMEC initiative
Special mention is made of the Cypriot security center, CYCLOPS, which is proposed as an example of regional cooperation, as well as the recent presidential decree through which Cyprus is included in American defense equipment programs. Finally, the bill stipulates that within one year of its enactment, the Secretary of State must brief the relevant Congressional committees on every multilateral initiative between the US and IMEC countries. Within the same timeframe, and in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, an assessment of the operation of CYCLOPS must be presented as a potential model for broader multilateral partnerships.
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