Sec. 1254. Sense of Congress on European defense and North Atlantic Treaty Organization spending
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Congress makes the following findings: North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)countries, at the 2014 North Atlantic Treaty Organization Summit in Wales, pledged to reverse the trend of declining defense budgets, to make the most effective use of our funds and to further a more balanced sharing of costs and responsibilities . Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel stated on May 2, 2014, that [t]oday, America’s GDP is smaller than the combined GDPs of our 27 NATO allies. But America’s defense spending is three times our Allies’ combined defense spending. Over time, this lopsided burden threatens NATO’s integrity, cohesion, and capability, and ultimately both European and transatlantic security . Former North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated on July 3, 2014, that [d]uring the last five years, Russia has increased defense spending by 50 percent, while NATO allies on average have decrease their defense spending by 20 percent. That is not sustainable, we need more investment in defense and security . It is the sense of Congress that— it is in the national security and fiscal interests of the United States that prompt efforts should be undertaken by North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies to meet defense budget commitments made in Declaration 14 of the Wales Summit Declaration of September 2014; the United States Government should continue efforts through the Department of Defense and other agencies to encourage North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies towards meeting the defense spending goals set out at the Wales Summit; some North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies have already taken positive steps to reverse declines in defense spending and should continue to be supported in those efforts; and thoughtful and coordinated defense investments by European allies in military capabilities would add deterrence value to the posture of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization against Russian aggression and terrorist organizations and more appropriately balance the share of Atlantic defense spending.