The Senate and House Armed Services Committees have advanced their versions of next year's defense spending bill, with measures aimed at building cooperation between Middle Eastern states to counter threats by Iran. The Senate's bill calls for the Biden administration to improve maritime security and naval interdictions in the Persian Gulf, build regional cybersecurity cooperation, and assess what benefits Iran may be receiving in return for its support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. The House's bill includes measures to further US support for Israel, such as steps to help ensure Israel's ability to strike at Iran's nuclear sites with less reliance on outside support.

The post Congress doubles down on Middle East Defense Architecture in NDAA markups appeared first on Balanced News Summary.