WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Armed Services Committee member, joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) in introducing the Israel CENTCOM Reclassification Act (ICRA), a bill to require the Department of Defense to conduct a study, in consultation with the Israeli government, on transferring Israel from the United States European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility to the Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility.

“Transferring Israel from EUCOM to CENTCOM would be an acknowledgement of the new dynamics in the Middle East, reflecting the newfound peace and stability made possible by the historic Abraham Accords President Trump secured this year,” said Senator Cramer. “This commonsense move would allow better coordination between the United States and our Middle East allies, and we expect the study our bill would create would reflect that.”

Joining Senators Cramer and Cotton in introducing this bill are Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Roger Wicker (R-MS). Click here to read the full text of the bill.

Background:

  • The historic Abraham Accords between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have dramatically changed the Middle East security environment in favor of peace and cooperation between Israel and neighboring Arab countries.
  • With this new regional reality, transferring Israel to CENTCOM—which handles military operations in the Middle East—may help optimize coordination among the United States, Israel, and other partners in the Middle East on regional security issues, such as countering Iran.
  • Reclassifying Israel as part of CENTCOM would advance the mission of the Abraham Accords by deepening coordination between the United States and its allies and partners in the Middle East on vital defense activities and would ensure that U.S.-Israel military cooperation accounts for current realities in the region.