Capitol Hill urges Trump admin to back trilateral mediterranean power link
"The implementation of Capitol Hill urges trump admin to back trilateral mediterranean power link is set to drive significant advancements in Cyprus's energy market. This initiative introduces critical infrastructure updates designed to enhance capacity and align with long-term transition goals."
EU Directive 2019/790 Article 15 Attribution • Verified Energy Document
A bipartisan coalition of U.S. House lawmakers is actively lobbying the Trump administration to provide support for the ambitious "Great Sea Interconnector" project, a high-voltage power link designed to connect the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus, and Greece. The $2 billion initiative is seen as a crucial step towards bolstering regional energy security and fostering stronger connectivity across Europe, the Middle East, and India.
On Tuesday, a group spearheaded by Representatives Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) called upon U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) CEO Benjamin Black to endorse the undersea cable project. This vital infrastructure, stretching approximately 751 miles across the Mediterranean, would first link Israel to Cyprus, and then Cyprus to Greece, aiming to integrate isolated grids and facilitate power sharing, including energy from renewable sources.
The European Union has already recognized the Great Sea Interconnector as a "project of common interest" and has committed a substantial 657 million euros in funding. In their letter to Secretary Rubio and CEO Black, the lawmakers emphasized that American backing for the interconnector would significantly strengthen U.S. partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean. They further argued that the project would solidify the region's role as a strategic gateway for energy and infrastructure, connecting three continents.
"The Eastern Mediterranean is emerging as a central hub for energy and infrastructure connecting Europe, the Middle East and India," the lawmakers stated, requesting a briefing to further discuss the project's strategic implications. They underscored the U.S.'s vested interest in ensuring this transformation "strengthens our partners, diversifies energy routes, deepens regional integration and advances a transparent alternative to infrastructure dominated by strategic competitors."
The letter also garnered signatures from Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Craig Goldman (R-Texas), and Haley Stevens (D-Mich.). Despite facing some delays and questions regarding its economic viability, the European Commission continues to classify the Great Sea Interconnector as a project of paramount strategic importance for the region.