[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2510 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2510
To enhance counterterrorism and maritime security cooperation and
training within the ``3+1'' structure between the United States,
Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 31, 2025
Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Mr. Kean, Mr. Gottheimer, and Mr. Goldman
of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enhance counterterrorism and maritime security cooperation and
training within the ``3+1'' structure between the United States,
Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American-Hellenic-Israeli Eastern
Mediterranean Counterterrorism and Maritime Security Partnership Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to enhance counterterrorism and maritime
security cooperation and training within the ``3+1'' structure between
the United States, Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Israel has been designated as a Major Non-NATO Ally
under U.S. law since 1987 and its partnership with the U.S. is
critical to the protection of U.S. interests in the Eastern
Mediterranean and the surrounding regions.
(2) The Department of State describes Israel as ``a great
partner to the United States'' with an ``unbreakable bond''
that ``has never been stronger.''
(3) The longstanding strength of the relationship between
the U.S. and Israel is demonstrated by the historic
significance of the United States being the first country to
officially recognize Israel as a state in 1948 and being the
first country to recognize Jerusalem as its capital in 2017.
(4) The United States remains in solidarity with Israel
following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack committed by
Hamas, described by the Department of State as ``the deadliest
terrorist attack in its 75-year history'' which included the
deaths of more than forty-four Americans, the most killed in a
terrorist attack since the events of September 11, 2001, and
the capture of twelve other Americans as hostages.
(5) The Department of State holds that ``support for
Israel's security has been a cornerstone of American foreign
policy,'' as demonstrated by the longstanding support provided
to Israel by the U.S.
(6) The United States and Israel have defense cooperation
agreements including a Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement
(1952); a General Security of Information Agreement (1982); a
Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (1991); and a Status of
Forces Agreement (1994).
(7) The United States has participated in military
exercises with Israel, including Juniper Oak and Juniper
Falcon.
(8) The United States and Israel have engaged in strategic
dialogue involving counterterrorism coordination.
(9) Greece is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Ally that consistently exceeds its obligation of spending 2% of
its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense annually. In 2021,
Greece spent a higher percentage of its real GDP on defense
than any other NATO country. In 2024, Greece spent 3.08% of its
real GDP on defense and accordingly continues to rank amongst
the highest of all NATO countries. Its significant
contributions to the Alliance, including hosting the NATO
Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI), the NATO Maritime
Interdiction Operations Training Center (NMIOTC), the NATO
Integrated Air and Missile Defense (NATO IAMD) Centre of
Excellence, have led to it being designated as a ``key NATO
Ally'' by the Department of State.
(10) Greece continues to support U.S. maritime security
through hosting the U.S. Navy installation Naval Support
Activity Souda Bay on the island of Crete, and Souda Bay
provides the only deep-water port in the Mediterranean able to
service the largest types of aircraft carriers operated by the
U.S.
(11) The Department of State describes Greece as ``a leader
in the region'' and ``an important partner to the United States
in promoting regional security, stability'' with a significant
``location at the crossroads of the Western Balkans, North
Africa, the Middle East, and NATO's southeastern flank,''
making ``Greece a particularly important strategic ally.''
(12) The Department of State has declared that Greece
``shares a deep and abiding security partnership'' with the
United States.
(13) The United States and Greece have defense cooperation
agreements including The General Security of Military
Information Agreement (GSOMIA) of 1986; the Defense Industrial
Cooperation Agreement (DICA) of 1986; the NATO Status of Forces
Agreement (SOFA) of 1951; the Comprehensive Technical Agreement
(CTA) of 2001; and the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement
(MDCA) of 1990 (updated in 2019 and in 2021).
(14) Greece has participated in multiple bilateral and
multilateral military exercises with the United States,
including Thracian Cooperation, Stolen Cerberus, Trojan
Footprint, Poseidon's Rage, Orion, Iniochos, Defender Europe,
and Alexander the Great. According to the Department of State,
each year the Armed Forces of the United States and Greece
jointly participate in more than 15 major military exercises.
(15) The United States and Greece have engaged in strategic
dialogue involving counterterrorism coordination.
(16) The Republic of Cyprus (ROC) has been described by the
Department of State ``as an important partner for regional
stability, security, and prosperity'' to the United States,
with an important ``geostrategic position.'' In 2025, the
Department of State declared that ``Cooperation between the
United States and the ROC is at a historic high.''
(17) The Department of State declared that the United
States ``works closely with the ROC to advance shared security
priorities in the Eastern Mediterranean region.''
(18) The United States and the Republic of Cyprus have
agreed to a Statement of Intent on bilateral security
cooperation in 2018 and a Defense Cooperation Roadmap for 2024-
2029 ``directed towards promoting stability, security, and
prosperity in the region.''
(19) The United States and the Republic of Cyprus have
engaged in strategic dialogue involving counterterrorism
coordination.
(20) In addition to the strong bilateral relationships
between the United States and Israel, the United States and
Greece, and the United States and the Republic of Cyprus, all
four countries share a multilateral relationship under the
``3+1'' structure established through Eastern Mediterranean
Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 section of the
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 and the United
States-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of
2021 section of the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2022.
(21) Together, the United States, Israel, Greece, and the
Republic of Cyprus share the mutual goal of ensuring the
Eastern Mediterranean is protected from threats of terrorism.
(22) The United States and Israel have a history of strong
counterterrorism cooperation. The Department of State has
described Israel as ``a committed counterterrorism partner,
closely coordinating with the United States on a range of
counterterrorism initiatives.'' This includes previous annual
meetings of the Joint Counterterrorism Group between the two
countries.
(23) The United States and Greece have a history of strong
counterterrorism cooperation. The Department of State has
described Greece as ``a steadfast and reliable counterterrorism
partner.'' This has been demonstrated recently through
``improved information exchanges and CT cooperation with the
United States through the Joint Security Program pilot.''
(24) The United States and the Republic of Cyprus have a
history of strong counterterrorism cooperation. The Department
of State has described the Republic of Cyprus as a partner that
has ``collaborated closely with the United States bilaterally
and as a member of the EU, as well as with other countries on
international counterterrorism efforts.''
(25) The Department of State reported that ``ROC
authorities have taken enhanced security measures to prevent
terrorist actions following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
The Cyprus National Police conducted increased patrols at
airports, harbors, marinas, and ports; assessed high-threat
targets--mostly of Israeli and U.S. interests--and provided
frequent patrols; provided a police presence at all synagogues
in Larnaca, Limassol, and Paphos; increased police coverage at
the Israeli Embassy.'' Additionally, the Republic of Cyprus has
been threatened by Iran-backed terrorist organizations,
including Hezbollah.
(26) Israel and Greece have a history of strong
counterterrorism cooperation and participate ``in regional and
multinational counterterrorism exercises'' between the two
countries, as described by the Department of State.
(27) Israel and the Republic of Cyprus have a history of
strong counterterrorism cooperation and participate ``in
regional and multinational counterterrorism exercises'' between
the two countries, as described by the Department of State.
(28) Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have a history of
strong counterterrorism cooperation and participate ``in
regional and multinational counterterrorism exercises'' between
the two countries, as described by the Department of State.
(29) Israel, Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus have a
history of strong trilateral counterterrorism cooperation
reflected through multiple types of engagement.
(30) The foreign ministers of Israel, Greece, and the
Republic of Cyprus, and the United States Secretary of State,
have collectively met multiple times to discuss multilateral
security issues.
(31) The Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port
Security (C.Y.C.L.O.P.S.), initially funded by the United
States State Department's Export Control and Related Border
Security (EXBS) program through a Memorandum of Understanding
between the Republic of Cyprus and the USA, signed on September
12, 2020, has served as an important training center for the
United States. The United States has conducted multiple
security cooperation initiatives utilizing C.Y.C.L.O.P.S.
including the U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons of
Mass Destruction Terrorism ``Saharan Fox'' workshop.
(32) Together, the United States, Israel, Greece, and the
Republic of Cyprus share the mutual goal of ensuring the
Eastern Mediterranean is protected from breaches of maritime
security.
(33) Souda Bay, Crete, has served as an important location
for the United States to conduct maritime security initiatives
since 1969 and has long been considered the most essential
location for supporting U.S. naval activity in the
Mediterranean. In addition to providing the only port in the
region able to sustain the largest aircraft carriers operated
by the United Sates, it's location at the junction between
Europe, Africa, and Asia make it a location of great
geostrategic value.
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to establish a security subcomponent of the ``3+1''
structure between the United States, Israel, Greece, and the
Republic of Cyprus;
(2) to expand official strategic engagement with Israel,
Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus regarding counterterrorism
and maritime security;
(3) to increase support for joint counterterrorism and
maritime security exercises among Israel, Greece, and the
Republic of Cyprus;
(4) to increase participation in multilateral dialogues on
counterterrorism and maritime security conducted among the
United States, Israel, Greece and the Republic of Cyprus;
(5) to increase support for the participation of Israel,
Greece, and the Republic of Cyprus in the Combating Terrorism
Fellowship Program;
(6) to expand United States support for counterterrorism
initiatives at C.Y.C.L.O.P.S. (Cyprus Center for Land, Open-
seas, and Port Security) in the Republic of Cyprus and develop
deeper cooperation with the latter regarding counterterrorism
and maritime security;
(7) to expand United States support for maritime security
initiatives at the Greek Souda Naval Base in Greece and develop
deeper cooperation with the latter regarding counterterrorism
and maritime security;
(8) to further support a robust International Military
Education and Training (IMET) programming with Israel, Greece
and the Republic of Cyprus, which will increase
interoperability with the United States;
(9) to encourage counterterrorism, border and maritime
security investments in Israel, Greece, and the Republic of
Cyprus; and
(10) to increase counterterrorism intelligence sharing and
maritime domain awareness cooperation with Israel, Greece, and
the Republic of Cyprus.
SEC. 5. ELIMINATION OF SCHEDULED TERMINATION OF CYPRUS, GREECE, ISRAEL,
AND THE UNITED STATES 3+1 INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP.
Section 1316 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2022 is amended by striking subsection (e).
SEC. 6. ISRAEL, GREECE, CYPRUS, AND THE UNITED STATES
INTERPARLIAMENTARY EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SECURITY
COOPERATION GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a group, to be known as
the ``Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and the United States Interparliamentary
Eastern Mediterranean Security Cooperation Group'' to serve as a
security focused legislative subcomponent to the 3+1 interparliamentary
group established in Section 1316 of the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
(b) Membership.--The group established under subsection (a) shall
include a group of not more than 6 Members of the United States Senate
and 6 Members of the United States House of Representatives, who shall
be appointed jointly by the majority leader and the minority leader of
the Senate and the speaker and the minority leader of the House of
Representatives, respectively. Membership shall include 2 Members of
Congress who serve on an appropriate congressional committee.
(c) Meetings.--Not less frequently than twice each year, the United
States Interparliamentary Eastern Mediterranean Security Cooperation
Group shall meet with Israeli, Cypriot, and Greek parliamentary
counterpart members to discuss issues on the agenda of the legislative
branch of the Governments of Israel, Greece, the Republic of Cyprus,
and the United States regarding counterterrorism and maritime security.
SEC. 7. ISRAEL, GREECE, CYPRUS, AND UNITED STATES INTEREXECUTIVE
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SECURITY COOPERATION GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a group, to be known as
the ``Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and United States Interexecutive Eastern
Mediterranean Security Cooperation Group'' to serve as a security
focused executive component to the ``3+1'' structure.
(b) Membership.--The Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and the United States
Interexecutive Eastern Mediterranean Security Cooperation Group shall
include a designated officer from:
(1) The United States Department of State, appointed by the
United States Secretary of State.
(A) The responsibilities of this designated officer
as established in Sec. 7. may be assigned to an
existing officer within the Department of State to
fulfil the requirements of Sec. 7.
(2) The United States Department of Defense, appointed by
the United States Secretary of Defense.
(A) The responsibilities of this designated officer
as established in Sec. 7. may be assigned to an
existing officer within the Department of Defense to
fulfil the requirements of Sec. 7.
(3) The United States Department of Homeland Security,
appointed by the United States Secretary of Homeland Security.
(A) The responsibilities of this designated officer
as established in Sec. 7. may be assigned to an
existing officer within the Department of Homeland
Security to fulfil the requirements of Sec. 7.
(c) Meetings.--Not less frequently than twice each year, the United
States Interexecutive Eastern Mediterranean Security Cooperation Group
shall meet with Israeli, Cypriot, and Greek executive counterpart
members to discuss issues on the agenda of the executive branch of the
Governments of Israel, Greece, the Republic of Cyprus, and the United
States regarding counterterrorism and maritime security.
SEC. 8. 3+1 COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION TRAINING STRUCTURE.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with
the Secretary of State, shall establish a counterterrorism training
program, to be known as the ``Counterterrorism Education for Readiness
Building in the East-Mediterranean Region to Unify Security Program''
or ``CERBERUS'', which shall--
(1) be used at the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and
Port Security, provided that the Government of the Republic of
Cyprus agrees so, with the purpose of