Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.) to discuss their recent bipartisan delegation visit to the Abraham Accords member countries of Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Morocco.
During the bipartisan congressional delegation, Senator Bennet and his colleagues saw firsthand how the Abraham Accords have strengthened regional integration and cooperation, and discussed how to reinforce and expand these Accords going forward.
“Throughout 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,” said Senator Bennet. “The 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.”
“The Abraham Accords have fundamentally transformed the Middle East and are paving the way for unprecedented partnerships between Israel and Arab partners,” said Senator Rosen. “During 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.”
“The 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,” said Senator Lankford. “Over 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’s national security and economic growth.”
See below for highlights from the trip:
In Morocco, Bennet and his colleagues met with Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita to discuss how the Abraham Accords can directly improve the lives of the people of Morocco.
In Bahrain, the group met with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to discuss deepening regional collaboration, including maritime cooperation, to deter Iranian aggression. The delegation also met with American troops at the United States Naval Forces Central Command headquarters.
In the United Arab Emirates, Bennet met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the region and to the UAE’s security, and to thank the UAE for its leadership on the Abraham Accords. The delegation also visited Al Dhafra Air Base to receive a briefing from United States Air Forces Central on how the Abraham Accords are contributing to regional security. Lastly, the delegation also visited the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, a complex housing three distinct religious spaces: a mosque, a synagogue, and a church.
In Israel, the delegation met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant, and Speaker of the Knesset Ohana to discuss ways to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and the Abraham Accords. The delegation also met with President Herzog to discuss ideas for new regional partnerships and with Opposition Leader Lapid about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the importance of preserving the Abraham Accords. In addition, the delegation met in Ramallah with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh to discuss tangible measures that benefit the lives of both Palestinians and Israelis and support prospects for lasting peace.