Sec. 1234. European investment in security and stability
433 words·~2 min read·
/bill/114/s/2943/pap/section-1234·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)allies and European partners of the United States are indispensable to addressing global security challenges; the security and stability of Europe is an enduring vital national security interest of the United States; while the investments of the United States are important to the security and stability of Europe, the investments of North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and European partners in developing and employing their own security capabilities should meet or exceed such investments of the United States, including in efforts such as the European Deterrence Initiative; Congress expects an increase in the forward presence of the military forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies and European partners, especially by the most capable North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies; and the forces described in paragraph
(4)must be interoperable with the additional United States troops in Eastern Europe, as enabled by the European Deterrence Initiative, and are a critical component of the forward presence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to provide improved collective security and increased effective deterrence. Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall present to the congressional defense committees an accounting of European investment in security capabilities including current and planned efforts to contribute to global security operations such as maintaining security and stability in Afghanistan and countering the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, programs and projects designed to deter Russia and maintain the security and stability of Europe, and any other initiative that matches or compliments the efforts the United States is making (such as the European Deterrence Initiative). The accounting presented pursuant to subsection
(b)shall include the following: A summary of the major outcomes of the 2014 NATO Wales Summit and the 2016 NATO Warsaw Summit including progress towards fulfilment of pledges to increase defense spending as agreed to by Heads of State and Government. A description of initiatives by other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European partners to— deter security challenges posed by Russia; increase capabilities to respond to unconventional or hybrid warfare tactics such as those used by the Russian Federation to annex Crimea and foment instability in Eastern Ukraine; enhance security in Europe in ways that match or exceed United States contributions to conventional deterrence in the region; contribute to the counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant campaign and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led mission in Afghanistan; and counter terrorism elsewhere in Europe and Africa. Any other matters the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.