{"id":7070,"date":"2023-01-24T18:10:56","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T18:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rosen-testing.senate.gov\/?p=7070"},"modified":"2023-07-18T15:21:52","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T15:21:52","slug":"rosen-lankford-lead-colleagues-in-historic-bipartisan-delegation-visit-to-abraham-accords-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rosen.senate.gov\/es\/2023\/01\/24\/rosen-lankford-lead-colleagues-in-historic-bipartisan-delegation-visit-to-abraham-accords-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"Rosen, Lankford Lead Colleagues in Historic Bipartisan Delegation Visit to Abraham Accords Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"
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During The Visit, The Senators Engaged With Leaders In Israel, The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, And Morocco<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON DC<\/strong> \u2013 U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and James Lankford (R-OK), co-founders and co-chairs of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus<\/a>, led a bipartisan group of seven Senators in a visit to the Abraham Accords member countries of Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco. In visiting these countries, the Senators saw firsthand how the Abraham Accords have enabled unprecedented regional integration and cooperation, and they discussed ways in which these Accords can be strengthened and expanded to bring in other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senators Rosen and Lankford were joined by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Ted Budd (R-NC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Abraham Accords have fundamentally transformed the Middle East and are paving the way for unprecedented partnerships between Israel and Arab partners,\u201d dijo el Senador Rosen.<\/strong> \u201cDuring this visit, my colleagues and I witnessed firsthand how the Accords are enabling cooperation in areas such as energy and water security, trade, health, technology, tourism, and people-to-people relationships, as well as regional security integration to defend against Iranian aggression. I want to thank my colleagues for joining me on this historic, bipartisan trip.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Abraham Accords have been the most significant development for Middle East peace in decades. I have worked for two years to build on the success of the Abraham Accords by strengthening the commitment of current countries and finding additional nations to join,\u201d said Senator Lankford.<\/strong> \u201cOver the past week, I have spent face-to-face time with the key leaders from Morocco, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Israel to talk through problems and opportunities for the future of the Abraham Accords. Concerns with Iran and its proxies came up with every nation as well as the need to bolster defense cooperation, negotiate new trade agreements, and pursue religious freedom. When we find common ground and economic opportunities for all people, even unlikely allies can find a way to come together. We have much work to do in the days ahead, but working toward peace in the Middle East is important for America\u2019s national security and economic growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThroughout our trip, we met with American diplomatic staff, servicemembers, business leaders, and regional allies and partners to reinforce our bipartisan commitment to the Abraham Accords and the historic opportunity it offers for normalization, cooperation, and integration across the Middle East,\u201d said Senator Bennet.<\/strong> \u201cThe Accords have improved relations in the region by strengthening security, economic, and cultural ties between member countries. Moving forward, we should work to expand the Accords and advance progress on key issues, including energy and commerce, and continue pushing back against Iran’s malign influence and aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe signing of the Abraham Accords was a historic milestone in forging a lasting peace in the Middle East,\u201d said Senator Gillibrand.<\/strong> \u201cThe normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and its Arab partners has encouraged cooperation, economic prosperity and increased security in the region. I am proud to be part of this bipartisan coalition to the countries in the Abraham Accords and I look forward to bringing lessons learned on this trip to my work on the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, where I\u2019m working to increase the national security of the United States and our allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to thank Senators Rosen and Lankford for organizing this important, historic trip to meet with the leadership of Abraham Accord countries who have normalized relations with Israel. It was also an honor to meet with some of our brave military men and women \u2013 including Alaskans \u2013 who are serving in the region,\u201d said Senator Sullivan<\/strong>. \u201cThe ongoing and severe challenge posed by Iran, the world\u2019s largest state sponsor of terrorism, and its proxies, was a central theme raised by every single leader we met with in every country. The United States and our partners in the region must take collective actions to deter the violent, malignant activities of Iran, including working towards a system of integrated air and missile defense. The Iran challenge can also be turned into an opportunity to expand the Abraham Accords to other countries \u2013 this was another common theme we heard from leaders in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur bipartisan trip to the Middle East came at a critical time as we work together to expand on the Abraham Accords, counter shared threats, and promote peace. The conversations we had with government, military, and civil leaders this past week will inform our work to advance diplomacy in the region and around the world,\u201d said Senator Kelly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to thank Senators Rosen and Lankford for leading this delegation and for inviting me to be a part of it. I would also like to thank the governments of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco for welcoming us to their nations,\u201d said Senator Budd.<\/strong> \u201cThe Abraham Accords were a historic breakthrough for peace and economic partnership in the Middle East. Our delegation witnessed the benefits of the Accords, particularly new trade deals and economic partnerships that will benefit all participating countries. Our delegation also heard first hand about the challenges that remain, primarily the threat from Iran. We remain committed to strengthening and expanding the Accords, so that the future of the Middle East is one of prosperity and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In visiting these countries, the bipartisan delegation had meetings with government officials, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n