United States announces talks between Israel and six other Arab countries on energy

The United States, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain plan to hold a discussion on energy interconnection in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean region. With the participation of the Sultanate of Oman, Sudan, Morocco and the Palestinian Authority. 

The US Secretary of Energy, Dan Brouillette, announced that the United States wants to invite more than six Arab countries to a virtual regional conference with Israel. During the last days of the Trump Administration, the United States intends to reach an agreement on energy in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

During a conversation Brouillette had with the energy secretaries of the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain, they made a small breakthrough, where they agreed to hold a conversation on energy connectivity and investment. Dan Brouillette spoke at a conference on Tuesday where he explained that it would be held in early January.

They also considered inviting the Sultanate of Oman, Sudan, Morocco and perhaps the Palestinian Authority to the conversation. The invitations will be sent soon and additional coordination work will be done by the United States before sending them, the US energy secretary assured.

The talks he held with his peers in the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain, he said, focused on "things that we can implement together, all four of us, that would improve and increase the opportunities for interdependence of the countries seeking it in the region".

Electricity is the starting point for these talks, gas pipelines and the movement of gas across the region. The objective and focus of this dialogue is to reach conclusions to provide affordable energy and access to energy for all in the region.

Brouillette said the United States will be an active partner in the energy field with the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain and any other country that wants to join.