US President Joe Biden congratulated on Thursday Israel and Lebanon on officially concluding their agreement to resolve their long-standing maritime boundary dispute.

“Today in Naqoura, Lebanon, both Parties took the final steps to bring the agreement into force and submitted the final paperwork to the United Nations in the presence of the United States,” Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

“As I said when this historic agreement was announced, it will secure the interests of both Israel and Lebanon, and it sets the stage for a more stable and prosperous region.”

He pledged that Washington will continue to serve as a facilitator as the parties work to uphold their commitments and implement the deal.

“Energy—particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean—should not be a cause for conflict, but a tool for cooperation, stability, security, and prosperity. This agreement takes us one step closer to realizing a vision for a Middle East that is more secure, integrated, and prosperous, delivering benefits for all the people of the region,” Biden added.