Quick Hit:

In a Sunday op-ed published by Fox News, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst warned that under Vice President Kamala Harris’s leadership, America risks losing its influence in the Middle East. Ernst highlighted that the Abraham Accords, signed under Trump, were "the greatest deal between Israel and Arab countries in modern history." She cautioned that "four more years of Kamala Harris will breed further chaos" and undo the diplomatic progress made by the Trump administration.

Key Details:

• Ernst credited the Abraham Accords with unifying Israel and Arab nations against Iran, calling it a historic diplomatic achievement. She emphasized that Iran-backed terrorists are trying to dismantle this progress and accused the Biden-Harris administration of enabling them by refusing to enforce sanctions on Tehran.

• The Iowa senator highlighted her legislative efforts, including the DEFEND and MARITIME Acts, which helped protect Israel and U.S. allies from Iranian missile and maritime threats. However, Ernst warned that the administration’s appeasement of Iran could undermine these defenses.

• Ernst shared concerns from Middle Eastern leaders during her recent trip, who told her they are losing faith in American leadership due to the Biden-Harris administration’s "decision to abandon our allies and embolden our adversaries."

Diving Deeper:

In a Sunday op-ed published by Fox News, Senator Joni Ernst issued a stark warning about the future of Middle Eastern diplomacy under the Biden-Harris administration, arguing that Kamala Harris’s policies are undoing the historic progress made under President Trump. Ernst described the Abraham Accords, signed on September 15, 2020, as "the greatest deal between Israel and Arab countries in modern history," emphasizing that it fostered a stronger cultural, economic, and defense partnership between the two regions.

The Trump administration’s firm stance against Iran, Ernst argued, was key to these accomplishments. She noted that Iran’s biggest fear— a unified and prosperous Middle East—was becoming a reality through these accords. However, Ernst criticized the Biden-Harris administration for weakening this unity by failing to enforce sanctions on Tehran, which has emboldened Iran to fund terrorism and engage in what she called "hostage diplomacy."

Ernst pointed to the October 2023 terrorist invasion of Israel by Iran-backed Hamas as evidence that terrorists are actively attempting to disrupt the region's stability. Despite these challenges, she praised Israel and Arab nations for remaining committed to the Abraham Accords. "While this is proof that the unifying strength behind the Abraham Accords is alive, we must be vigilant to ensure progress does not unravel," she wrote, warning that the Biden-Harris administration’s actions could unravel years of peace-building.

To counter Iran’s aggression, Ernst detailed her legislative efforts, such as the DEFEND and MARITIME Acts, which have allowed the U.S. and its allies to protect against missile attacks and maritime threats. "In April, the U.S., Israel, and our Arab partners worked together to shoot down a barrage of 300 Iranian projectiles," she noted. However, Ernst argued that the administration’s refusal to hold Iran accountable for its actions threatens to undo these efforts.

During a recent trip to the Middle East, Ernst said that regional leaders expressed their growing dissatisfaction with American leadership. "Make no mistake, this is a result of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' decision to abandon our allies and embolden our adversaries," she wrote, adding that this shift in U.S. foreign policy began with the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Ernst closed by urging the U.S. to build upon the Abraham Accords and continue supporting Israel and its allies against Iran’s aggression. She outlined several of her legislative proposals aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, including the STARS Act to improve satellite security coordination and the LINK Act to deepen defense ties between military leaders of Abraham Accords nations.

"The power of the Accords is not dead," Ernst insisted, but added that "four more years of Kamala Harris will breed further chaos."