The Deterring Enemy Forces and Enabling National Defenses (DEFEND) Act is Washington’s most recent attempt to boost the Abraham Accords brokered by the Trump cabinet. The accord was forged between Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, and Morocco in 2020.

The bill would authorize the US Defense Department to cooperate with Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The GCC includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
The aim is to create an integrated missile and air defense infrastructure to defend against potential Iranian attacks.

Aside from Egypt, Jordan, and — thanks to the Abraham Accords — the UAE and Bahrain, Israel has no formal alliances with the rest of the states listed in the US legislation.

Iraq, once Iran’s main rival, is not included on the list. Last month, Israel365 News reported that the Iraqi parliament passed a law criminalizing ties with Israel, punishable with the death sentence or life imprisonment.