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115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 557 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the strategic importance of 

NATO to the collective security of the transatlantic region and urging 

its member states to work together at the upcoming summit to strengthen the alliance. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 27, 2018 

Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. TILLIS, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the strategic 

importance of NATO to the collective security of the 

transatlantic region and urging its member states to 

work together at the upcoming summit to strengthen 

the alliance. 

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to 

in this Resolution as ‘‘NATO’’) will hold its next Summit 

meeting July 11–12, 2018, in Brussels, Belgium; 

Whereas the security of the United States remains inextricably linked to the security of Europe and NATO’s 

founding purpose remains as valid today as it has been 

since NATO was created; 


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Whereas our NATO allies have contributed significantly to 

military operations led by the United States around the 

world, and actively contribute to current Alliance missions, including the reinforcement of NATO’s eastern 

flank by leading 3 of the 4 battlegroups of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence; 

Whereas while an increasing number of NATO member 

states are fulfilling their pledges at the 2014 NATO summit in Wales to allocate 2 percent of their gross domestic 

product towards defense spending, all NATO member 

states should be urged to meet the 2 percent target and 

to allocate 20 percent of their annual defense spending 

on major new equipment, including related research and 

development, in order to more fairly share the burden of 

transatlantic defense; 

Whereas United States force deployments to Europe as part 

of the European Deterrence Initiative, and the corresponding measures by NATO member states in the Enhanced Forward Presence, are contributing to enhanced 

security on NATO’s eastern flank; 

Whereas the Russian Federation’s aggression towards its 

neighbors, its breach of international norms, and its noncompliance with its arms control commitments have severely impacted European security and will continue to 

pose a security threat for the foreseeable future; 

Whereas administrative and logistical obstacles to the mobility of military assets across Europe, and the potential 

mismatch between the speed of NATO-level decision making and the speed of a crisis, have been shown to constitute potential challenges to the successful defense of 

NATO’s territorial integrity; 


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Whereas the cyber domain is a crucial aspect of NATO operations and a key tool at potential adversaries’ disposal; 

Whereas NATO member states collectively face a continued 

and persistent threat from terrorism and our NATO allies are making significant commitments in keeping terrorist networks from interfering in any NATO territory; 

Whereas NATO member states— 

(1) have collectively identified corruption and poor 

governance, including within member states, as ‘‘security 

challenges which undermine democracy, the rule of law, 

and economic development’’; and 

(2) in recognition of this challenge, adopted a Building Integrity Policy, which is intended to support transparent and accountable defense institutions under democratic control; 

Whereas NATO’s enlargement has delivered enhanced security and stability to all NATO member states, including 

Montenegro (the newest NATO member), while remaining incomplete and underlining the need for NATO’s 

Open Door Policy to remain in effect for all aspiring 

countries and for invitations to join NATO to be issued 

as soon as an aspirant country has met the conditions for 

membership; 

Whereas the first of 10 Principles Guiding Relations between 

Participating States contained in the Final Act of the 

Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, done 

at Helsinki August 1, 1975 (commonly known as the 

‘‘Helsinki Final Act’’), recognizes the right to be or not 

to be a party to treaties of alliance as a right inherent 

in sovereignty to be respected on an equal basis among 

the signatory states; and 


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Whereas the commitment made by NATO in the Founding 

Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security Between NATO and the Russian Federation, done at Paris 

May 27, 1997 (commonly known as the ‘‘NATO-Russia 

Founding Act’’), to ‘‘carry out its collective defence and 

other missions by ensuring the necessary interoperability, 

integration, and capability for reinforcement rather than 

by additional permanent stationing of substantial combat 

forces’’ was predicated on ‘‘the current and foreseeable 

security environment’’ that existed in 1997, which has 

been fundamentally altered by the aggression directed by 

the leaders of the Russian Federation: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms the enduring commitment of the 

3 United States to NATO’s collective defense, en4 shrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, 

5 done at Washington April 4, 1949 (commonly known 

6 as the ‘‘Washington Treaty’’); 

7 (2) emphasizes the need for all NATO member 

8 states to be prepared to meet their respective obliga9 tions under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty; 

10 (3) pledges its support for all appropriate meas11 ures collectively taken to deter and defend against, 

12 if necessary, Russian aggression against the terri13 tory of any NATO member state, including the ex14 plicit aim of the leaders of the Russian Federation 

15 to fracture the unity between NATO member states; 


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1 (4) emphasizes its commitment to a North At2 lantic alliance based on shared values, including the 

3 rule of law, to prevent internal forces from eroding 

4 NATO’s foundation; 

5 (5) encourages all NATO member states to 

6 clearly commit to further enlargement of the alli7 ance, including extending invitations to any aspirant 

8 country which has met the conditions required to 

9 join NATO; and 

10 (6) urges leaders who will be meeting at the 

11 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium to ensure 

12 that NATO— 

13 (A) meets urgent security threats; 

14 (B) continues to transform to counter 

15 emerging and evolving challenges, including hy16 brid warfare, terrorism, cyberattacks, and re17 newed challenges to sea lines of communication 

18 between North America and Europe; and 

19 (C) adopts a rapid reinforcement plan 

20 that— 

21 (i) expedites political decision making; 

22 (ii) reinvigorates the NATO command 

23 structure; 

24 (iii) streamlines the capacity to mobi25 lize forces across national borders; and 


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1 (iv) improves joint readiness goals. 

Æ 


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