Sec. 102. Reaffirming the importance of NATO
438 words·~2 min read·
/bill/119/hr/2913/ih/section-102·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds the following: The United States and its democratic allies and partners face unprecedented international challenges and evolving threats to global security. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)was founded on April 4, 1949, to counter Soviet expansion, prevent further world wars in Europe, and strengthen transatlantic security, and is built on the democratic principles of freedom, security, and national sovereignty. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty underpins the principle of collective defense and has served as a guiding value of United States foreign policy for over 75 years. The United States commitment to Article 5 enhances deterrence against adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran that seek to spread their malign influence. The unity of NATO allies strengthens collective security and the stability of democratic states. NATO serves as a bulwark against the proliferation of malign influence, technologies, and destabilizing operations by adversaries. Authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have increased collaboration in political, economic, and security sectors to undermine democratic principles. In the only invocation of Article 5, NATO allies provided military and intelligence support to the United States following the September 11, 2001, attacks, and many NATO allies incurred significant casualties in Afghanistan. NATO has remained steadfast in its support for Ukraine, with member countries providing military and non-security assistance, strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities, and imposing costs on Russia for its illegal invasion. Finland and Sweden made the sovereign decision to accede to NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. NATO continues to address systemic challenges posed by China to Euro-Atlantic interests and security. NATO member states have strengthened their defense and cyber capabilities, including through the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program. It is the sense of Congress that— the United States reaffirms its full and unwavering commitment to NATO; NATO remains vital to United States national security interests and the United States remains fully committed to defending its allies under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty; NATO’s open door policy is essential to European security, and every sovereign state has the right to determine its security arrangements, including Ukraine; the United States remembers and honors the thousands of NATO coalition soldiers who sacrificed their lives following the invocation of Article 5 after the September 11, 2001, attacks; all NATO allies should dedicate at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product to national defense or establish concrete plans to meet their 2 percent obligations by the Washington Summit; and NATO allies must continue cooperation in advanced defense technologies, counterintelligence, and cybersecurity programs to counter evolving threats from adversaries such as Russia, China, and Iran.