Lankford Wants to Strengthen US Cybersecurity Partnerships with Abraham Accords Countries

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), co-founders and co-chairs of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus, were joined by fellow caucus members Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to introduce the Abraham Accords Cybersecurity Cooperation Act, which would build on the recent expansion of the Abraham Accords into cybersecurity by authorizing cybersecurity cooperation between the Department of Homeland Security and Abraham Accords countries.

“Most Oklahomans and Americans never get to hear about the quiet work of our national cybersecurity teams who work to keep us safe,” said Lankford. “Bad actors like Iran relentlessly engage in cyber warfare, including targeting of critical infrastructure and ransomware attacks. Allies like Israel bring tremendous capabilities to the table to strengthen our mutual security in the cyber domain, which is why I am co-leading this bill to formally strengthen our network defense and cybersecurity work alongside the Abraham Accords countries.”

“The Abraham Accords are fostering an unprecedented level of security cooperation between the US, Israel, and our Arab partners,” said Rosen. “At a time when Iran and other hostile cyber actors are targeting the United States and Abraham Accords countries with malicious cyberattacks, this bipartisan legislation will help strengthen our collective cybersecurity defenses against shared threats.”

“The Iranian regime has persistently attacked the American homeland and our partners and allies seeking to degrade our cyber infrastructure and steal our secrets,” said Ernst. “I am proud to support this legislation to strengthen the Abraham Accords and counter Iran’s malicious activities.”

“Cybersecurity is a global problem that requires international cooperation and collaboration,” said Booker. “This legislation will enhance cooperation between Abraham Accords countries by facilitating information sharing and coordinating responses to cyberattacks, strengthening our collective ability to combat these evolving threats.”

“The signing of the Abraham Accords was a historic milestone in forging a lasting peace in the Middle East and has encouraged cooperation and economic prosperity,” said Gillibrand. “The bipartisan Abraham Accords Cybersecurity Cooperation Act would increase civil cybersecurity cooperation, strengthen our ability to protect critical infrastructure, and enable greater security in the region.”

Lankford recently joined Rosen, Ernst, and Booker to introduce the Maritime Architecture and Response to International Terrorism in the Middle East (MARITIME) Act, which would build on the Abraham Accords by requiring the Department of Defense to develop a strategy with partners and allies in the Middle East to counter maritime threats posed by Iran, violent extremist organizations, and criminal networks. Lankford joined Ernst, Rosen, and Booker to introduce the Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defense (DEFEND) Act to develop a strategic approach among countries included in the Abraham Accords, aimed at combatting Iranian aggression in the Middle East.

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