House lawmakers push US backing for Israel-Greece-Cyprus power link

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to support a proposed underwater power cable connecting the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece.

Led by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), the group sent a letter Tuesday to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO Benjamin Black backing the Great Sea Interconnector project.

The planned undersea cable would span approximately 751 miles across the Mediterranean, linking Israel to Cyprus and Cyprus to Greece. The project carries an estimated cost exceeding $2 billion. The European Union has designated it a project of common interest and committed 657 million euros in funding.

In their letter, the lawmakers stated the initiative would strengthen U.S. Partnerships in the Eastern Mediterranean and position the region as a strategic gateway between India, the Middle East and Europe. They wrote: "The Eastern Mediterranean is emerging as a central hub for energy and infrastructure connecting Europe, the Middle East and India" And requested a briefing on the project.

The group also noted: "The United States has a clear interest in ensuring that this transformation strengthens our partners, diversifies energy routes, deepens regional integration and advances a transparent alternative to infrastructure dominated by strategic competitors."

The letter was signed by Schneider, Bilirakis and Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Craig Goldman (R-Texas) and Haley Stevens (D-Mich.).

The Great Sea Interconnector aims to connect Cyprus to the European electricity grid and enable the three nations to exchange electricity, including renewable energy. The project has encountered delays and viability concerns, though the European Commission continues to view it as strategically significant.